PROX1 Is Associated with Cancer Progression and Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

BACKGROUND: It was recently reported that expression of prospero homeobox protein-1 (PROX1) is correlated with the prognosis of esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer. However, its correlation with gastric cancer is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study analyzed the effect of PROX1 knockdown on the migration, invasion and proliferation of the MKN45 human gastric cancer cell line. The correlation between PROX1 expression levels and clinicopathological factors were also analyzed in tumor samples from 99 patients with gastric cancer. RESULTS: Migration, invasion and proliferation were significantly reduced in MKN45 cells with PROX1 knockdown. PROX1 expression was detected in gastric cancer tissues at various levels. PROX1 expression levels were positively correlated with cancer stage, N factor, lymphatic vascular invasion, and vascular invasion in patients with gastric cancer. Analysis of overall and recurrence-free survival indicated that high PROX1 expression was significantly correlated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: PROX1 can be an indicator of poor prognosis and a molecular target for gastric cancer treatment.