Relationship between the degree of Helicobacter pylori infection and miR-155 and miR-543 expression levels in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: To analyze the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection degree and miR-155 and miR-543 expression levels in gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: GC patients were retrospectively enrolled (n = 405), with their baseline data, 2-year follow-up records, and prognosis collected and analyzed. miR-155 and miR-543 expression levels in GC tissues were first predicted online and then determined in GC patient tissues using RT-qPCR. The correlations between miR-155 and miR-543 expression patterns and the U value of HP infection were analyzed through Spearman coefficient. A multivariate Cox regression model was established to analyze the risk factors for 2-year postoperative death of HP-positive GC patients. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to analyze the impact of miR-155 and miR-543 on the 2-year prognosis of HP-positive GC patients. RESULTS: miR-155 and miR-543 were upregulated in GC tissues and cells, with significantly higher expression levels in HP-positive compared to HP-negative patients. miR-155 and miR-543 expression changes were correlated with the HP infection degree. There were significant differences in miR-155 and miR-543 expression patterns across tumor diameter, TNM staging, and lymph node metastasis degree. Upregulated miR-155 and miR-543, TNM stage III, and lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for 2-year postoperative death in HP-positive GC patients. Upregulated miR-155 and miR-543 increased the 2-year postoperative death rate. CONCLUSION: miR-155 and miR-543 were upregulated in HP-positive GC patients, and their expression changes were correlated with HP infection degree. High miR-155 and miR-543 expression increased the risk of 2-year postoperative death in HP-positive GC patients.