Tissue Expression of ETS-Related Gene in Gastric Carcinomas

INTRODUCTION: The ETS-related gene (ERG) encodes a member of the erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor family that has been implicated in both tumor invasion and neovascularization. In this retrospective study, we have aimed to investigate the clinical significance of ERG tissue expressions in gastric cancer. METHODS: We examined the expression of ERG protein by immunohistochemical staining in tissue specimens harvested from 172 primary gastric cancer cases. RESULTS: ERG was expressed in normal vascular endothelium. ERG staining was defined as positive in 9.9 % (17 /172) of gastric cancer cases. According to clinicopathological characteristics, statistically significant differences were not observed between ERG expression and tumor invasion, lymph node and distant metastases, increased tumor stage, histological lymphatic and neural invasion. There were no significant differences in age, gender, or histopathological grading as for ERG expression. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ERT expression in gastric cancers is not correlated with histological prognostic indicators.