Abstract:
Objective To investigate the clinical significance of thrombospondin-2 (THBS2) mRNA expression in gastric carcinoma and its relationships with clinicopathologic features, microvessel density (MVD), and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2).
Methods THBS2 mRNA expression was detected in 82 cases of gastric carcinomas and adjacent tissues using real-time quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction. The correlation of this expression with clinicopathologic features was also analyzed. Cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) and MMP-2 protein expression was examined using an immunohistochemical Elivision method. MVD was determined based on CD34-positive tubular structures.
Results The THBS2 mRNA expression level was significantly higher in the gastric carcinomas than in paraneoplastic tissues (P=0.002). The expression was associated with the depth of tumor invasion, MVD, and MMP-2 (P=0.02, r= 0.35, P < 0.01, and P=0.004, respectively) but not with patient gender, patient age, tumor size, histological type, and lymph node metastasis (P=0.53, P=0.53, P=0.21, P=0.84, and P=0.96, respectively).
Conclusions THBS2 may be significantly involved in the occurrence and progression of gastric carcinoma. The effects of THBS2 on gastric tumor growth and metastasis can be monitored by controlling the MMP-2 expression in the carcinoma. However, the specific functions and underlying mechanisms of THBS2 require further investigation.