Original Article
Correlation of ubiquitin expression in muscles of gastric cancer patients with their nutritional status and prognosis
Zhang Guoliang, Luo Jungang, Sun Yuanshui, Fang Sunyang, Chen Fusen, Tang Zhiliang
Published 2018-04-30
Cite as Chin J Clin Nutr, 2018, 26(2): 78-82. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1674-635X.2018.02.003
Abstract
ObjectiveTo look into the effect of ubiquitin (Ub) in muscles of gastric cancer patients on their nutritional status and prognosis.
MethodsAbdominal rectus muscles of 102 patients with gastric cancer and 53 patients with benign abdominal diseases were studied. The expressions of Ub mRNA and protein were assessed through real time-PCR and Western blot.
ResultsThe relative expression of Ub mRNA in rectus abdominis muscles of gastric cancer patients (4.10±1.04) was significantly upregulated compared with the control group (3.17±0.32)(t=7.386, P=0.000). The expression of Ub protein in rectus abdominis muscles of patients with gastric cancer was upregulated compared with the controls(0.151±0.058 vs. 0.084±0.046, t=7.275, P=0.000). The high expression of Ub mRNA in rectus abdominis muscles of gastric cancer patients was significantly associated with decreases in weight, body mass index, prognostic nutritional index, serum albumin and hemoglobin (χ2=11.780, 6.557, 11.849, 15.742, 8.360; P=0.001, 0.010, 0.001, 0.000, 0.004). The high expression of Ub mRNA in rectus abdominis muscles of gastric cancer patients was not correlated with the patients' sex, age, tumor size or Borrmann type (χ2=0.038, 1.978, 0.486, 1.483; P=0.774, 0.160, 0.486, 0.223), but it was related to the pathologic type, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging of gastric carcinoma (χ2=11.260, 9.362, 20.517; P=0.004, 0.002, 0.000). The survival rate of gastric cancer patients with high expression of Ub mRNA was lower than those with low expression (χ2=5.775, P=0.016).
ConclusionsUb mRNA and protein were upregulated in rectus abdominis muscles of gastric cancer patients. The high expression of Ub mRNA in these patients was related to their nutritional status and prognosis, which might play an important role in the development of cachexia.
Key words:
Gastric cancer; Ubiquitin; Nutrition; Prognosis; Cachexia
Contributor Information
Zhang Guoliang
Department of General Surgery, Shaoxing Central Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312030, China
Luo Jungang
Sun Yuanshui
Fang Sunyang
Chen Fusen
Tang Zhiliang