MOR1 expression in gastric cancer: a biomarker associated with poor outcome

At present, the expression of MOR1 and its function in gastric cancer remains unclear with evidence suggesting that it is to be involved in tumor progression and metastasis. The study was to assess the clinicopathologic relevance and prognostic value of MOR1 expression in gastric cancer.

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect MOR1 expression in primary gastric cancerous surgical specimens and adjacent nontumorous tissues.

High MOR1 expression was detected in cancerous tumor compared with their adjacent nontumorous tissues. In addition, the chi-square test revealed that high MOR1 expression was significantly correlated with depth of invasion (p = 0.006), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.001), distant metastasis (p = 0.017), and TNM staging (p = 0.027). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant association between MOR1 expression and overall survival. High expression of MOR1 was identified as an independent and significant predictor gene of reduced postoperative survival.

We conclude that MOR1 expression may be a useful biomarker for better prediction of the clinical outcome and management of gastric cancer patients.