The Expression Analysis of MEST1 and GJA1 Genes in Gastric Cancer in Association with Clinicopathological Characteristics

Nooshin Pourjamal; Reza Shirkoohi; Elham Rohani; Mehrdad Hashemi

doi:10.18502/ijhoscr.v18i1.14747

Nooshin Pourjamal Department of Genetics, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Tehran, Iran
Reza Shirkoohi Cancer Biology Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran
Elham Rohani Department of Genetics, Islamic Azad University, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch, Tehran, Iran
Mehrdad Hashemi Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijhoscr.v18i1.14747

Keywords: Gene; Expression; Gastric; Cancer; Mest1; GjA1

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer is an invasive cancer, which is usually diagnosed in advanced stages. However, the markers affecting its progression, and invasion are of great importance in its diagnosis and treatment. The current research aimed to study the correlation of genes that contributed to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), Mest1, and GjA1, with some clinicopathological specifications in gastric cancer patients to better comprehend the functions of these genes in this tumor.

Materials and Methods: RNA was extracted from the tumor, and normal tissues and cDNA were synthesized. Then, by designing specific primers for Gja1 and Mest1 genes, their expressions were studied by RT-PCR. The data was analyzed by GraphPad Prism 8 software.

Results: Significant differences among the expressions of mentioned genes associated with clinicopathological variables of gastric cancer patients, including tumor size, grade, stage, metastasis, and lymphatic invasion were seen.

Conclusion: The obtained data showed the important role of EMT-related genes, Gja1 and Mest1 in the clinical progression of the tumor. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these genes as biomarker candidates for detecting gastric cancer.