ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the role of regenerating gene type IV (Reg IV) in the development and progression of gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: S-P immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of Reg IV, PI3K, and Akt proteins in 63 gastric adenocarcinoma specimens and the corresponding tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Results: The positive expression rates of Reg IV, PI3K and Akt proteins in 63 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues were 50.7% (32/63), 68.3% (43/63) and 60.3% (38/63), respectively, being significantly higher than those in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues (19.0%[2/63], 20.6%[13/63], and 9.5% [6/63], respectively, P<0.05). Reg IV expression was significantly correlated with the differentiation degree of gastric adenocarcinoma (P<0.05) and PI3K protein expression was significantly correlated with the differentiation degree, infiltrative depth, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). Akt protein expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). We also found that Reg IV protein expression was positively correlated with PI3K and Akt expression (rs=0.284, 0.305, P<0.05), and PI3K expression was positively correlated with Akt protein expression (rs=0.423, P<0.05). Conclusion: Reg IV overexpression is associated with the progression of gastric adenocarcinoma, which may involve activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.