Objectives:Rho C, a member of the ras-related small GTPase protein family, regulates cytoskeletal structures and has the potential to transform cultured cells. It has recently been reported that Rho C contributes to the metastatic phenotype of melanoma cells. The purpose of this study was to clarify its biological relevance to gastric carcinogenesis and metastasis. Methods: We examined the expression of Rho C by quantitative RT-PCR in 51 cases of gastric carcinoma tissues from prior surgical cases (intestinal type: 24 cases, diffuse type: 27 cases) and in 8 gastric carcinoma cell lines. Results:Rho C expression levels in primary tumors were significantly higher in cases with metastasis than in those without metastasis (p = 0.0202; Mann-Whitney U test). Rho C expression levels in primary tumor and their metastatic tumors were significantly higher than their corresponding nonneoplastic mucosa (p = 0.0357, and 0.0173, respectively; Wilcoxon signed rank test). Rho C mRNA expression was confirmed in the gastric carcinoma cell lines. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that elevated expression of the Rho C gene may be involved in the metastasis of gastric carcinomas and may be a good genetic marker for the prediction of a metastatic potential.

Keywords:
Small GTPase Rho protein, Cell adhesion, Cell motility, Metastasis, Gastric carcinoma
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© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
2003
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