Positive expression of Lin28 is correlated with poor survival in gastric carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of Lin28 in gastric carcinoma and to assess its clinical significance. The expression level of Lin28 was assessed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 10 surgically resected gastric carcinoma and corresponding normal tissues, and by immunohistochemical staining in surgically resected gastric carcinoma tissues of 229 patients, including 215 curative resection patients and 14 palliative resection patients. The expression level of Lin28 mRNA in gastric carcinoma tissues and corresponding normal tissues had no statistically significant difference. In curative resection patients, Lin28 protein expression was positive in 99 of 215 (46.0 %) gastric carcinoma tissues. In palliative resection patients, Lin28 protein expression was positive in 4 of 14 (28.6 %) gastric carcinoma tissues. In R0 patients, Lin28 protein positive expression was correlated with poor outcome (P = 0.017). In multivariate analysis, the Lin28 protein positive expression was a significant independent prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.024; HR, 1,768; 95 % CI 1.077–2.903). Our results indicate that Lin28 was expressed in both gastric carcinoma and corresponding normal tissues. Lin28 protein positive expression served as an independent prognostic factor.