Prognostic role of myeloid cell leukemia‐1 protein (Mcl‐1) expression in human gastric cancer

AbstractBackgroundMyeloid cell leukemia‐1 protein (Mcl‐1), an anti‐apoptotic member of Bcl‐2 family, has been reported to be correlated with tumor progression. The purpose of this study was to establish the prognostic value of Mcl‐1 expression in human gastric cancer.MethodsWestern blot assay was performed to detect the expression of Mcl‐1 protein in human gastric cancer cell lines and tissues, while Mcl‐1 expression in resected gastric cancer tissue samples was analysed by immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe level of Mcl‐1 protein expression in gastric cancer cell lines was significantly higher than that in gastric mucosa epithelial cell line. Moreover, the expression level of Mcl‐1 protein was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than corresponding noncancerous tissues. Expression was correlated with T classification (P = 0.003), metastasis (P = 0.001), clinical stage (P = 0.010), and venous invasion (P = 0.004). Patients with high Mcl‐1 expression showed poorer 5‐year overall survival than patients with low Mcl‐1 expression (P = 0.012; log‐rank test). Further univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that high Mcl‐1 expression was an independent prognostic marker for the disease.ConclusionMcl‐1 is highly upregulated in gastric cancer and high Mcl‐1 expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. Thus, Mcl‐1 can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:396–400. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.