LGR4 and LGR6 are differentially expressed and of putative tumor biological significance in gastric carcinoma

Virchows Arch. 2012 Oct;461(4):355-65. doi: 10.1007/s00428-012-1292-1. Epub 2012 Aug 2.

Abstract

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. We investigated the differential expression and putative tumor biological significance of five G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in GC, i.e., LGR4, LGR6, GPR34, GPR160, and GPR171. Based on our previous microarray analyses, we identified five candidate genes in human GC samples. Real-time RT-PCR was carried out to validate their expression in malignant and non-malignant tissues on an independent collective comprising 32 GC patients with and without lymph node metastases. Selected protein targets LGR4 and LGR6 were further validated on paraffin-embedded sections of ten intestinal and ten poorly cohesive (diffuse)-type GCs and their corresponding non-malignant tissue using immunohistochemistry. Additionally, the putative tumor biological significance of LGR4 and LGR6 was studied using tissue microarrays obtained from a cohort of 481 GC patients. On transcriptional level, GPR34, GPR160, and GPR171 were not differentially expressed in GC compared with non-neoplastic mucosa. LGR4 and LGR6 were up-regulated on transcriptional (real-time RT-PCR) and translational (immunohistochemistry) levels in GC. Furthermore, in tissue microarray analysis, LGR6 expression was significantly associated with local tumor growth (T-category; p = 0.04) and correlated with patient survival. LGR4 expression was significantly correlated with nodal spread (N-category; p = 0.025). Our systematic analysis indicates that LGR4 and LGR6 may play a role in GC biology. Future studies will have to demonstrate whether these are also putative diagnostic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic targets for GC.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism*
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Biopsy
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Lysophospholipid / metabolism
  • Stomach / pathology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / mortality
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Survival Rate
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • G-protein-coupled receptor 34
  • GPR160 protein, human
  • LGR4 protein, human
  • LGR6 protein, human
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Lysophospholipid