Relationship Between Expression Of Farnesyltransferase Beta-subunit MRNA With Clinicopathological Features And H-ras Mutation In Gastric Cancer Tissues

Objective: To investigate the expression of farnesyltransferase(FTase) beta-subunit mRNA in gastric cancer tissues and its relationship with cUnicopathological features and point mutation in codon 12 of H-ras. To get to know its role and value in the diagnosis of gastric cancer and the judgement as well as prediction, so as to provide theoretical basis for the usage of FTase inhibitor(Fn) to treat gastric cancer.Methods: Forty-three gastric cancer specimens and their normal counterparts were obtained. FTase beta-subunit mRNA expression was investigated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Point mutation in codon 12 of H-ras was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to analyse the difference of the matching data of the conveying level of FTase beta-subunit mRNA expression. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyse the relationships among age, sex, site of tumour, pathological classification, histological differentiation, metastasis of lymphnode, H-ras mutation and FTase activity in carcinoma.Results: The mean levels of FTase beta-subunit mRNA were significantly higher in the gastric cancer tissues than those in the matched normal tissues in 43 cases (0.89±0.48 vs 0.69±0.40, P=0.014). There was one case of mutation of H-ras 12 codon in 43 cases of cancers (1/43,2.3%), but no mutation in the tissues adjacent to the cancers. No relationship was found between the expression of FTase beta-subunit mRNA and age,site of tumor, histological differentiation, metastasis of lymphnode, or H-ras 12 codon mutation. But for female, patients with seal-cell carcinomas had higher expression of FTase beta-subunit mRNA.Conclusions: (1)The expression of FTase beta-subunit mRNA is higher in the gastric cancer tissues than in the adjacent tissues. (2)The ratio of point mutation in codon 12 of H-ras is low in gastric cancer . (3)There is no relationship between the expression of FTase beta-subunit mRNA and point mutation in codon 12 of H-ras.