Expression And Significance Of FOXP4, E-cadherin And Vimentin In Gastric Cancer

Objective:To study the expression of FOXP4,E-cadherin and Vimentin in gastric cancer and adjacent tissues,and the correlations between their expression.Methods:mRNA and protein expression of FOXP4,E-cadherin and Vimentin in gastric cancer and adjacent tissue was determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,Western blot,and immunohistochemistry,and the correlation among the three and their clinical significance were analyzed.Results:(1)FOXP4,a protein mainly expressed in the nucleus of epithelial cells,showed higher positive rate in gastric cancer tissue than in adjacent tissue(82%vs.62%,χ~2=4.96,P<0.05).Vimentin,a protein mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of stromal cells and rarely in epithelial tissue,showed higher positive rate in gastric cancer tissue than in adjacent epithelial tissue(84%vs.2%,χ~2=64.94,P<0.05).E-cadherin,a protein mainly expressed on cell surface and cell junctions of epithelial cells,showed lower positive rate in gastric cancer tissue than in adjacent epithelial tissue(44%vs.100%,χ~2=23.88,P<0.05).(2)Expression level of FOXP4 in the cancer tissue was correlated with depth of invasion(P<0.05),and showed no significant correlation with age,gender,tumor size,degree of differentiation,or presence of lymph node metastasis(P>0.05).Expression levels of Vimentin and E-cadherin were correlated with degree of differentiation(P<0.05),and had no significant correlation with age,gender,tumor size,depth of invasion,or presence of lymph node metastasis(P>0.05).(3)There is a positive correlation between the expression of FOXP4 and Vimentin(P<0.05,r=0.364).The expression of FOXP4 and E-cadherin was negatively correlated(P<0.05,r=-0.319).The expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin is negatively correlated(P<0.05,r=-0.382).(4)Western blot showed significantly elevated protein expression of FOXP4 and Vimentin(P<0.05),and significantly decreased E-cadherin protein expression(P<0.05)in the gastric cancer tissue.(5)Real-time quantitative PCR also showed significantly elevated mRNA expression of FOXP4 and Vimentin(P<0.05),and significantly decreased E-cadherin mRNA expression(P<0.05)in the gastric cancer tissue.Conclusions:(1)Expression levels of FOXP4 and Vimentin are up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues,while E-cadherin expression is down-regulated.(2)Expression level of FOXP4 in gastric cancer tissue is related to depth of invasion,and Vimentin and E-cadherin levels are related to the degree of tumor differentiation.Joint detection of FOXP4,Vimentin and E-cadherin may be helpful in evaluating invasion and differentiation of gastric cancer.(3)In gastric cancer tissues,There is a positive correlation between the expression of FOXP4 and Vimentin.The expression of FOXP4 and E-cadherin was negatively correlated.The expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin is negatively correlated.