Positive cytoplasmic UCHL5 tumor expression in gastric cancer is linked to improved prognosis

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Accurate prediction of disease progression is difficult, and new biomarkers for clinical use are essential. Recently, we reported that the proteasome-associated deubiquitinating enzyme UCHL5/Uch37 is a new prognostic marker in both rectal cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Here, we have assessed by immunohistochemistry UCHL5 tumor expression in gastric cancer. The study cohort comprised 650 patients, who underwent surgery in Helsinki University Hospital, Finland, between 1983 and 2009. We investigated the association of cytoplasmic UCHL5 tumor expression to assess clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Positive cytoplasmic UCHL5 tumor immunoexpression is linked to increased survival of patients with small (p = 0.001), disease stages I-II (p = 0.025), and age 66 years or older (p = 0.037). UCHL5 is thus a potential marker in gastric cancer with new prognostic relevance.胃癌是全球范围内第二常见的癌症相关致死病因。精准预测疾病进展颇具挑战，临床亟需新型实用生物标志物。此前本团队已证实，蛋白酶体相关去泛素化酶UCHL5/Uch37可作为直肠癌与胰腺导管腺癌的新型预后标志物。本研究通过免疫组织化学法检测了胃癌组织中UCHL5的肿瘤表达水平。研究队列纳入1983年至2009年间于芬兰赫尔辛基大学医院接受手术治疗的650例患者，旨在探讨肿瘤细胞质UCHL5表达与临床病理参数及患者生存结局的关联。结果显示，肿瘤细胞质UCHL5阳性免疫表达与小体积肿瘤（p = 0.001）、I-II期疾病（p = 0.025）以及年龄≥66岁（p = 0.037）患者的更长生存时间显著相关。综上，UCHL5可作为胃癌潜在的新型预后相关标志物。