Expression of the anaphylatoxin C5a receptor in gastric cancer: implications for vascular invasion and patient outcomes

The C5a receptor (C5aR) expressed in various types of cancers is involved in C5a-induced cancer cell invasion. However, its role in gastric cancer has not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, we studied the clinical significance of C5aR expression in gastric cancer. The association of C5aR expression in gastric cancer, determined by immunostaining using the anti-C5aR antibody, with clinicopathological parameters and outcomes was evaluated in 148 patients. Further, the association of C5aR expression in liver metastatic sites with clinicopathological parameters was investigated in a separate cohort of 58 patients who underwent hepatectomy. High tumoral C5aR expression (n = 45, 30.4 %) was significantly related to tumor location, cancer invasion depth, vascular and lymphatic invasion, and tumor stage. The 5-year recurrence-free and overall survival rates of patients with high tumoral C5aR expression were significantly lower than those of patients with low tumoral C5aR expression (50.9 vs. 84.2 %, P = 0.002 and 58.8 vs. 86.1 %, P = 0.007, respectively). The incidence of liver metastasis was significantly higher in patients with high tumoral C5aR expression (13.3 %) than in those with low tumoral C5aR expression (3.9 %; P = 0.04). C5aR expression at liver metastatic sites was associated with the C5aR expression status at the primary site (P = 0.0004), vascular invasion at the primary site (P = 0.04), and tumor size at the metastatic site (P = 0.01). C5aR expression in gastric cancer was associated with cancer progression, liver metastasis, and poor prognosis. Therefore, C5aR may represent a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in gastric cancer.