Overexpression of periostin is positively associated with gastric cancer metastasis through promoting tumor metastasis and invasion

Abstract

Background: Gastric tumors generally have a poor prognosis and molecular markers to improve early detection and predict outcomes are greatly needed. The present study reports that periostin (POSTN), a secretory protein that can alter the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, is highly expressed in gastric tumors.Materials and Methods: Gastric tissues were collected from patients at the Southern Medical University. These patients provided an informed consent and were approved by the institute. Normal, cancer, and metastatic gastric tissues from lymph nodes and tissues adjacent to the tumor were collected from patients diagnosed with gastric cancer. Results: Periostin expression gradually increased as the risk grade of the NIH classification increased, and this was closely correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival. Compared with adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues, protein expression of POSTN in gastric cancer tissues and metastases was significantly higher by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. In addition, POSTN was upregulated in advanced gastric cancer tissues than in early gastric cancer tissues.Moreover, the ectopic expression of POSTN in the immortalized human gastric cell line could increase the metastasis and invasion of gastric cancer cells. Conclusion: The present results could establish the significance of POSTN in driving oncogenesis and metastasis in gastric tumors, with implications for its potential use as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker, and as a candidate therapeutic target. K E Y W O R D Sbiomarker, gastric tumors, invasion, metastasis, periostin

The Extracellular Matrix: An Accomplice in Gastric Cancer Development and Progression

“…[66] Periostin Higher expression associated with metastasis. [67] Versican Increased in gastric cancer samples. [68] Decorin Increased in gastric cancer samples.…”

“…Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is another matrisome glycoprotein with high expression in tumor tissues and found to be an independent predictor of poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients [66,72]. Periostin, a secretory protein that can alter the remodeling of the ECM, was found to be highly expressed in gastric tumors and to be positively associated with gastric cancer metastasis by promoting tumor metastasis and invasion [67,73]. Of relevance, periostin has been reported to maintain primary tumor growth, as well as to contribute to a "fertile soil" for colonization and proliferation of cancer cells in metastatic niches [73,74].…”

The Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Microenvironment as a Potential Target for Cancer Therapy

“…However, periostin and tenascin-C should be mentioned here, as they represent the hot topic of ECM research in cancer biology. Nevertheless, the interpretation of the findings is frequently problematic and cancer type-specific [44,45,46,47]. Particular attention is dedicated to endogenous lectins such as galectins and their relation to ECM and cancer progression [48,49].…”

Angiogenesis-Related Gene Expression Signatures Predicting Prognosis in Gastric Cancer Patients

“…Moreover, results from translational research on angiogenesis in GC indicate that several angiogenesis-related factors might be prognostically relevant [9,[15][16][17]. Although analyzing the expression levels of a single angiogenetic gene is convenient with immunohistochemistry and ELISA [17,18], multiple gene signature analysis reflects the complex interaction of various parameters affecting angiogenesis in tumor pathology. Therefore, this multigene approach might allow the characterizing of tumor biology, thereby supporting clinical decision-making in times of cancer precision medicine.…”

“…VTN, as a downstream target of VEGFR2, has been reported to be related to promoting the metastasis and proliferation of GC [31]. POSTN binds to integrins and by promoting adhesion and migration of epithelial cells it is involved in metastasis formation and further supports invasion of GC cells [18].…”