Expression of annexin A7 and its clinical significance in differentiation and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression and clinical significance of annexin A7 in the differentiation and lymphatic metastasis of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS The clinical and pathological data were recorded for analysis. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were performed to analyze the expression of ANXA 7 in primary GC tissues. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the associations between annexin A7 expression levels and differentiations of GC. Analyses of the ROC were conducted to determine the cut-off value of the ratio of pixel density of annexin A7 for predicting lymphatic metastasis of GC. RESULTS A total of 162 GC patients were enrolled in this study, and expression rate of annexin A7 was 65.4% in GC. The survival rate of patients with positive expression of annexin A7 was lower than that in patients with negative expression (P=0.000). The results of COX regression showed that the positive expression of annexin A7, submucosal confinement and pathological stage of GC were associated with poor clinical outcomes. The ratio of pixel density value of primary GC tissues with PN 1-3 lymphatic spread was significantly higher than those in tissues with PN 0 lymphatic spread (0.56±0.09 vs. 0.42±0.07, P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed a high area under the curve for the ratio of pixel density value of annexin A7 in primary GC tissues. At a cut-off level of > 0.505, the ratio of pixel density value of annexin A7 exhibited 76.7% sensitivity and 88.3% specificity for detecting lymphatic metastasis of GC. CONCLUSION High annexin A7 expression is associated with poor differentiation in GC patients, and it may be a predictor for lymphatic metastasis of GC.