Clinical Significance of Granzyme B Gene Expression in Pathological Stage II/III Gastric Cancer After Curative Gastrectomy

Background/Aim: Granzyme B (GZMB) is mainlyproduced by natural killer (NK) cells and activated CD8-positive T cells to induce tumor cell apoptosis. We analyzedthe significance of GZMB expression in gastric cancer (GC)tissues from patients with pathological (p)Stage II/III GCafter curative resection. Patients and Methods: Patients withpStage II/III GC who received curative resection (n=253)were included and the expression levels of GZMB in GCtissues and in the adjacent normal mucosa were measuredusing quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Theexpression levels in GC tissues and clinicopathologicalfeatures and overall survival (OS) were compared in thesepatients. Results: GZMB expression levels were significantlyhigher in GC tissues than in the adjacent normal mucosa.GZMB expression levels in GC tissues were not associatedwith any clinicopathological features. The 5-year OS rate inthe high-GZMB expression group was significantly betterthan that in the low-expression group (5-year survival rate72.0% vs. 55.7%; p=0.009). Furthermore, on multivariateanalysis, high-GZMB expression was an independent factorfor better OS (hazard ratio=0.652; 95% confidenceinterval=0.432-0.987; p=0.043). Conclusion: In patientswith locally advanced GC after curative resection, GZMBexpression in GC tissue may be a useful prognostic marker