Introduction: IM and HP are important risk factors for GC development. There are many studies about WNT signalling pathway in gastric carcinogenesis. However there are no studies about WNT signalling pathway in IM. Therefore we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of these genes as a marker by comparing the expression of genes of WNT signalling pathway in IM and GC patients.
Methods: A total 104 patients, (34 patients with GC [(categorized as the macroscopic and histopathologically confirmed gastric carcinoma group), 45 patients with IM (categorized as the histopathologically confirmed IM) group; and 25 healthy controls (who had normal gastric mucosa with no endoscopic or histopathological lesions)] were included in this study. Expression of genes in WNT signalling pathway were evaluated in IM, GC patients and control group with qRT-PCR array method. Genes that show significant ratio of expression, RHOA, NFACT1, CSNK1A1, DVL2, FZD8, CXADR, CCND2 and LRP5, were evaluated with RT- PCR method. Data were analysed using PCR array data analysis software (http://www.sabiosciences.com/pcrarraydataanalysis.php). The website also allowed online analysis.
Results: RHOA, CSNK1A1, DVL2, FZD8 and LRP5 were overexpressed in GC and IM groups, compared to control group. RHOA, CSNK1A1, DVL2, FZD8 and LRP5 were significantly overexpressed in patients with metastasis compared to patients without metastasis. RHOA, CSNK1A1, DVL2, FZD8 and LRP5 were significantly overexpressed in patients with diffuse GC compared to patients with non-diffuse GC. There was no significant difference in gene expression between GC group and IM group. RHOA, CSNK1A1, DVL2, FZD8 and LRP5 were significantly overexpressed in HP (+) patients compared to HP (−) patients.
Conclusion: We know that inflammation is an important factor in carcinogenesis. Overexpression of RHOA, CSNK1A1, DVL2, FZD8 and LRP5 in IM, leads to the conclusion that these expressions are an important marker in inflammation especially with HP before GC. However these genes are associated with tumour burden in patients with GC. Therefore we can speculate these genes are poor prognosis markers for GC. Thus they can be used as biomarkers in the future while monitoring treatment. Further and comprehensive studies are needed for these genes about this topic.