Role of RECK methylation in gastric cancer and its clinical significance

AIM: To investigate the relation between RECK methylation and clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients and evaluate the role of RECK methylation in peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. METHODS: Methylation of RECK gene in 40 paired samples of gastric cancer and its corresponding adjacent normal mucosa, lymph nodes and peritoneal irrigation fluid was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Aberrant methylation of RECK gene was detected in 27.5% (11/40) of the adjacent normal mucosa samples, in 47.5% (19/40) of gastric cancer samples, in 57.1% (12/21) of the lymph node samples, and in 35% (14/40) of peritoneal irrigation fluid samples, respectively, with a significant difference between the adjacent normal mucosa and lymph node samples (P = 0.023). Presence of RECK methylation in the primary tumor samples was significantly correlated with tumor invasion (P = 0.023). The accuracy of RECK methylation in peritoneal lavage fluid samples for the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer was 72.5% (26/40), with a sensitivity of 66.7% (6/9) and a specificity of 74.2% (23/31). CONCLUSION: Aberrant methylation of RECK gene may provide useful information for the early diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. (C) 2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.