Objective: To investigate the expressions of cyclin E, cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK-2) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p57(KIP2) in human gastric cancer, and to evaluate the relationships between protein levels and clinicopathological parameters.
Methods: Western blot was used to measure the expressions of cyclin E, CDK-2 and p57(KIP2) proteins in the surgically resected gastric carcinoma, adjacent normal mucosa and metastatic lymph nodes from 36 patients.
Results: Cyclin E and CDK-2 protein levels were higher in gastric cancer tissues in comparison with normal tissues (P < 0.05). Overexpression of cyclin E was correlated with lymph node involvement, poor histological grade and serosa invasion (P < 0.05). Overexpression of CDK-2 was correlated with lymph nodes involvement (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference between cyclin E and CDK-2 expression was found when samples were stratified according to tumor size (P > 0.05). Expression of cyclin E and CDK-2 showed a positive linear correlation (r = 0.451, P = 0.01). Protein levels of p57(KIP2) were lower in gastric cancer tissues than in the normal mucosa (P < 0.05). Decreased expression of p57(KIP2) was correlated with lymph node involvement (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference in p57(KIP2) expression was found when sample were stratified according to tumor size, histological grade or serosa invasion (P > 0.05). In metastatic lymph nodes, expression of cyclin E was increased and the expression of p57(KIP2) decreased.
Conclusion: Overexpressions of cyclin E, CDK-2 and downregulated expression of p57(KIP2) may play important roles in tumorigenesis and metastatic potential of gastric cancer.