Published online Feb 15, 2023. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i2.343
Peer-review started: October 29, 2022
First decision: December 30, 2022
Revised: January 2, 2023
Accepted: January 23, 2023
Article in press: January 23, 2023
Published online: February 15, 2023
Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) is a cell surface protein expressed by gastric cancer cells and a new target for the monoclonal antibody named zolbetuximab.
It is unknown whether CLDN18.2 expression on gastric cancer cells is prognostic.
To identify the prognostic value of CLDN18.2 expression in patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
We investigated the effect of CLDN18.2 expression on clinicopathological characteristics (age, sex, histological grade, Lauren classification, family history, metastatic site, and HER2 expression) and prognosis for patients with metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
There was no statistically significant correlation between CLDN18.2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients. In univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis, there was no correlation between clinicopathological characteristics of patients and progression-free survival or overall survival. The expression of CLDN18.2 was predictive for zolbetuximab in metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, but it is not prognostic.
CLDN18.2 expression is high in metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma and predictive for zolbetuximab, but it is not prognostic.
Detection of new prognostic and predictive markers will make gastric cancer more manageable.