Negative association of c-fos expression as a favorable prognostic indicator in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The onco-protein c-fos was previously linked to favorable prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) without further validations. The present study was designed to address the issue based on a cohort of Chinese patients. METHODS Expression of c-fos was determined by immunohistochemical staining in specimens from 58 patients with GC who underwent surgical resection. The relationships between c-fos expression and clinicopathological and prognostic variables were further evaluated. RESULTS Expression of c-fos in tumor epithelia was observed in 39 (67.2%) patients. The protein was also positively expressed in lymphocytes within tumors and para-tumor epithelia. Tumors with positive expression of c-fos in tumor epithelia had a smaller size and marginally earlier T stage in all patients and/or those who underwent curative resection. Univariate analysis showed that patients with positive c-fos expression in tumor epithelia had significantly prolonged overall and tumor-free survival. Cox regression analysis revealed that c-fos expression in tumor epithelia was an independent or potential independent indicator of improved prognosis in different subgroups of patients. Expression of c-fos in para-tumor epithelia and intra-tumor lymphocytes was not associated with clinicopathological variables and long-term outcomes in patients. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrated that c-fos expression was negatively associated with tumor progression and was predictive for favorable survival in patients with GC.