ABSTRACT
Background:TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway is involved in the tumorigenesis of a variety of malignancies via multiple mechanisms. However,its role in gastric cancer is not clearly clarified yet. Aims:To investigate the expressions of molecules in TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and their correlations with the clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer. Methods:A total of 154 endoscopic or surgical specimens of gastric cancer were collected at the Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases,the Fourth Military Medical University from Jan. 2014 to Oct. 2016 and were categorized into Helicobacter pylori(Hp)-positive group and Hp-negative group according to the status of Hp infection. Expressions of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB mRNA in gastric cancer tissues were detected by real-time PCR. Results:In Hp-positive group,expression levels of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB mRNA in gastric cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in Hp-negative group(P <0.05). Furthermore,it was found that the expression levels of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB mRNA in patients with poorly differentiated or undifferentiated cancer,with distant metastasis and in TNM stageⅢ-Ⅳwere significantly higher than those in patients with well-to-moderately differentiated cancer,without distant metastasis and in TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,respectively(P all <0.05). Spearman correlation coefficient analysis revealed that the expression levels of TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB mRNA were positively correlated with each other in gastric cancer tissues(r=0.734 for TLR4 and MyD88,r =0. 657 for TLR4 and NF-κB,and r = 0. 828 for MyD88 and NF-κB,P all < 0. 05). Conclusions:TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway is implicated in the tumorigenesis of Hp infection-related gastric cancer. In gastric cancer tissues,TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway might be associated with the malignant behavior of tumor and promote tumor progression.