Brief Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 21, 2010; 16(7): 904-908
Published online Feb 21, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i7.904
Role of RECK methylation in gastric cancer and its clinical significance
Yun-Yi Du, Dong-Qiu Dai, Zhi Yang
Yun-Yi Du, Dong-Qiu Dai, Zhi Yang, Department of Surgical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Du YY performed the whole experiment, wrote the manuscript; Dai DQ designed the experiment, provided financial support, conducted the whole study; Yang Z participated in the study.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30572162; the Foundation of Education Bureau of Liaoning Province, China, No. 2008S240
Correspondence to: Dong-Qiu Dai, Professor, Department of Surgical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. daidq63@163. com
Telephone: +86-24-83283556 Fax: +86-24-83283556
Received: November 7, 2009
Revised: December 20, 2009
Accepted: December 27, 2009
Published online: February 21, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the relation between RECK methylation and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients and evaluate the role of RECK methylation in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.

METHODS: Methylation of RECK gene in 40 paired samples of gastric cancer and its corresponding adjacent normal mucosa, lymph nodes and peritoneal irrigation fluid was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: Aberrant methylation of RECK gene was detected in 27.5% (11/40) of the adjacent normal mucosa samples, in 47.5% (19/40) of gastric cancer samples, in 57.1% (12/21) of the lymph node samples, and in 35% (14/40) of peritoneal irrigation fluid samples, respectively, with a significant difference between the adjacent normal mucosa and lymph node samples (P = 0.023). Presence of RECK methylation in the primary tumor samples was significantly correlated with tumor invasion (P = 0.023). The accuracy of RECK methylation in peritoneal lavage fluid samples for the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer was 72.5% (26/40), with a sensitivity of 66.7% (6/9) and a specificity of 74.2% (23/31).

CONCLUSION: Aberrant methylation of RECK gene may provide useful information for the early diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer.

Keywords: RECK gene; Hypermethylation; Gastric cancer; Metastasis; Peritoneal lavage fluid