CCNE1 Gene Amplification Might Be Associated with Lymph Node Metastasis of Gastric Cancer.

Background

Lymph node (LN) metastasis is one of the most frequent metastatic patterns in patients with gastric cancer (GC); however, few genes predictive of LN status in GC have been identified. Aims: We aimed to identify candidate genes associated with LN metastasis by analyzing the Center for Cancer Genomics and Advanced Therapeutics (C-CAT) database and performing immunohistochemical analysis of GC cases at our hospital. Patients and

Methods

A total of 2028 GCs from the C-CAT database were enrolled to identify genetic alterations. A total of 360 GC patients who underwent gastrectomy at our hospital were enrolled to examine the clinical significance of CCNE1 expression via an immunohistochemical study.

Results

A total of 977 cases out of 2028 GC patients showed LN metastasis. Genetic alterations of ERBB2, CCNE1, MYC, ZNF217, and GNAS were frequent in the LN metastasis group. CCNE1-positive expression was found in 108 (30.0%) of the 360 GC samples. LN metastasis was significantly (p = 0.01) more frequent in CCNE1-positive patients. In addition, the CCNE1-positive group had a significantly (p < 0.001) poorer prognosis than the CCNE1-negative group, which was especially evident for GC patients at stage I. CCNE1 positivity was significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with postoperative recurrence.

Conclusions

CCNE1 gene amplification is associated with LN metastasis of GC.