FAT2 Is a Novel Independent Prognostic Factor for the Poor Prognosis of Gastric Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the clinical implication of FAT2 in the progression, metastasis, and prognosis of gastric cancer. METHODS: The expression of FAT2 in 436 clinicopathologically characterized gastric cancer cases and 92 control human non-tumor mucosa were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Consequently, survival analysis was conducted to investigate the association of FAT2 expression and the development of gastric cancers. RESULTS: FAT2 protein was found highly expressed in 90 of 92 (97.83%) control human non-tumor mucosa, while was highly expressed in 126 of 436 (28.90%) tumors samples and low in 310 of 436 (72.10%). The expression of FAT2 was associated with age, tumor size, depth of invasion, Lauren's classification, lymph node and distant metastases, regional lymph node stage, TNM stage, and prognosis. In particular, for stage I, II, and III tumors patients the 5-year survival rate was lower in those with high expression of FAT2 than those with low expression. In stage IV tumors, the expression of FAT2 was not associated with the 5-year survival rate. Lauren's classification and distant metastases, TNM stage, and expression of FAT2 were independent prognostic factors in the patients with gastric cancer, as revealed by Cox regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The expression of FAT2 in gastric cancer was significantly associated with lymph node and distant metastases, and poor prognosis. FAT2 was also associated with the collective invasion and influenced the prognosis of those patients.