PIK3CA mutations are associated with increased tumor aggressiveness and Akt activation in gastric cancer

PIK3CA mutations are frequent in gastric cancer. However, their pathological and clinical implications are still unclear. We analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics according to the PIK3CA mutation status of patients with stage IB-IV disease who underwent gastrectomy between May 2003 and Dec. 2005 (cohort 1; n = 302) and of those with stage IV disease who received gastrectomy between Jul. 2006 and Dec. 2012 (cohort 2; n = 120). PIK3CA mutations were detected in 40 patients (13.2%) in cohort 1. In these patients, PIK3CA-mutant tumors were more frequently located in the upper third of the stomach (p = 0.021) and significantly showed poorly differentiated histology (p = 0.018) and increased lymphatic (p = 0.015), vascular (p = 0.005), and perineural invasion (p = 0.026). In addition, these tumors showed significantly increased lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltration in cancer stroma (p < 0.001), Epstein-Barr virus positivity (p < 0.001), and microsatellite instability (p = 0.015). Cytoplasmic Akt expression was significantly increased in these tumors (p = 0.001). In cohort 2, PIK3CA mutations were identified in 15 patients (12.5%). PIK3CA-mutant tumors showed significantly increased vascular invasion (p = 0.019) and microsatellite instability (p = 0.041). In addition, cytoplasmic Akt expression was also significantly increased (p = 0.018). However, in both cohorts, PIK3CA mutations were not associated with the prognosis of patients. In conclusion, PIK3CA mutations were associated with increased tumor aggressiveness, especially in locoregional disease, and Akt activation in gastric cancer. Our data suggest that PIK3CA-mutated gastric cancer is a distinct disease entity, which might need a different therapeutic approach.