Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of Shh, Gli1, and Cyr61 proteins in gastric cancer tissues and analyze the relationship between these three proteins and the clinicopathological factors and prognosis of patients.
Methods: This was a retrospective study. Four hundred gastric cancer tissue specimens from patients who underwent radical gastrectomy in Zhangye People's Hospital affiliated to Hexi University between February 2013 and February 2021 underwent immunohistochemical analysis.
Results: The positive expression rates of Shh, Gli1, and Cyr61 in gastric cancer tissues were 55.5%, 56.5%, and 64.5%, respectively. The expressions of Shh, Gli1, and Cyr61 in gastric cancer tissues were significantly correlated with tumor size, depth of invasion, and degree of differentiation (P < .05). The expression of Shh protein was positively correlated with the expression of Gli1 protein (P < .01), and the expression of Gli1 protein was positively correlated with the expression of Cyr61 protein (P < .01). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the expression of Shh, Gli1, and Cyr61 could predict the prognosis of patients (P < .05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis combined with TNM staging could better predict the three-year overall survival of patients (P < .05).
Conclusion: Shh, Gli1, and Cyr61 proteins are significantly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and are risk factors for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.
Keywords: Cyr61; Gli1; gastric cancer; prognosis; sonic hedgehog signaling pathway.