ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relationship between expressions of mismatch repair gene (MSH2) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) as well as their biologic behaviors in gastric carcinoma. Methods The samples obtained from 220 patients with gastric cancer were prepared for tissue chip. Then, the expression of MSH2 and OPG in gastric cancer tissues were detected by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Results The positive rate was 57.3% in MSH2 mRNA, 56.4% in OPG mRNA, 59.6% in MSH2 protein and 55.9% in OPG protein. The expressions of MSH2 and OPG were positively associated with TNM stage, invasive depth, vessel invasion, lymph node and distant metastasis, however, they were negatively associated with degree of differentiation. The positive relationship between MSH2 and OPG expressions was found in gastric cancer. The average survival time and 5-year survival time in patients with positive expression of MSH2 or OPG were shorter than those in patients with negative expressions. Conclusions In gastric carcinoma, the expressions of MSH2 and OPG are up-regulated and there is a positive correlation between two genes. Furthermore, the expressions of MSH2 and OPG are related with clinicopathologic fetures. The combination of MSH2 and OPG is useful for examining and predicting outcome of gastric cancer.