Different Cellular Localization of NF-κB p65 Expression as an Indicator of Different Prognoses of Stage I-III Gastric Cancer Patients

BackgroundNuclear factor-B p65 (NF-B p65) may play a significant role as a biomarker in tumor progression and metastasis. However, the correlation between cellular localization of NF-B p65 expression and the prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) patients has not been studied. The present study was designed to investigate the location of NF-B p65 expression in GC, and evaluate its correlation with clinicopathological parameters of GC patients. MethodsNF-B p65 expressions in GC tissue and corresponding nonmalignant tissue from gastrectomy of 115 stage I-III GC patients were detected by immunohistochemistry. In addition, correlations between the staining results and the clinicopathologic features and survival of the GC patients were analyzed. ResultsThe percentage of NF-B p65 expression in GC tissue and the corresponding nonmalignant tissue was 73.9% and 46.80%, respectively. No significant correlation was found between NF-B p65 expression and the clinicopathologic parameters. Cox univariate analysis indicated that both nuclear staining and cytoplasmic staining of NF-B p65 expression correlated with the prognosis of GC patients (log-rank, p = 0.0182; p = 0.0144, respectively). ConclusionHigh nuclear expression of NF-B p65 is an independent prognostic marker predicting a better survival, while high cytoplasmic staining indicates a worse prognosis of GC patients.