Activin a Receptor Type 2A Mutation Affects the Tumor Biology of Microsatellite Instability-High Gastric Cancer

Background: Activin A receptor type 2A (ACVR2A) is one of the most frequently mutated genes in microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) gastric cancer. However, the clinical relevance of the ACVR2A mutation in MSI-H gastric cancer patients remains unclear. The aims of this study were to explore the effect of ACVR2A mutation on the tumor behavior and to identify the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients with ACVR2A mutations.

Methods: An in vitro study was performed to investigate the biological role of ACVR2A via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ACVR2A knockout MKN74 human gastric cancer cells. One hundred twenty-four patients with gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed, and relations between MSI status, ACVR2A mutations, and clinicopathological factors were evaluated.

Results: ACVR2A knockout cells showed less aggressive tumor biology than mock-transfected cells, displaying reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion (P < 0.05). MSI mutations were found in 10% (13/124) of gastric cancer patients, and ACVR2A mutations were found in 8.1% (10/124) of patients. All ACVR2A mutations were accompanied by MSI. The 5-year overall survival rates of ACVR2A wild-type patients and ACVR2A-mutated patients were 57% and 90%, respectively (P = 0.048). Multivariate analysis revealed that older age (P = 0.015), distant metastasis (P < 0.001), and ACVR2A wild-type status (P = 0.040) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that gastric cancer patients with ACVR2A mutation have a significantly better prognosis than those without. Dysfunction of ACVR2A in MKN74 human gastric cancer cells caused less aggressive tumor biology, indicating the importance of ACVR2A in the progression of MSI-H tumors.