Tissue RNFT2 Expression Levels Are Associated With Peritoneal Recurrence and Poor Prognosis in Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM Disease recurrence is frequently observed after curative resection of advanced gastric cancer resulting in a poor prognosis. In the present study, we identified a candidate biomarker to predict recurrence and prognosis after curative resection of gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS A transcriptome analysis was conducted using surgically resected cancerous tissue from patients with metastatic gastric cancer to identify genes that are upregulated in primary and metastatic tissues. RESULTS Ring finger protein, transmembrane 2 (RNFT2) mRNA expression was upregulated in primary gastric cancer tissues and metastases compared with non-cancerous tissues. RNFT2 expression in gastric cancer cell lines was positively correlated with the EMT-related molecules GSC, MMP9, and RAC1. The RNFT2 high expression group exhibited a significantly shorter postoperative overall survival. Peritoneal recurrence was significantly higher in the RNFT2 high expression group. CONCLUSION RNFT2 mRNA expression predicts peritoneal recurrence and is a potential prognostic biomarker for gastric cancer following curative gastrectomy.