Clinical significance of integrin αvβ6 expression effects on gastric carcinoma invasiveness and progression via cancer-associated fibroblasts

Over-expression of integrin alpha v beta 6 and increased numbers of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the development and progression of cancers. The aim of this study is to investigate the expression level of integrin alpha v beta 6 and CAF numbers, their correlation with clinicopathologic features and their role in the prognosis of human gastric cancers. The expression levels of integrin alpha v beta 6 and alpha-SMA in CAFs were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Their correlation with clinicopathologic features, the relationships and the survival time of patients were also analyzed. The integrin alpha v beta 6 expression levels were analyzed mainly in gastric cancers. The alpha-SMA expression levels were analyzed mainly in gastric cancers and paraneoplastic tissues. Patients with positive integrin beta 6 and alpha-SMA expression have a significantly lower overall survival rate than those with negative integrin beta 6 and alpha-SMA expression (P < 0.05). A multivariate analysis using a log-rank test indicated that patients with positive integrin beta 6 and alpha-SMA expression and/or a diffuse type of gastric cancer had a significantly poorer overall survival rate than did those with negative integrin beta 6 expression (P < 0.05). Integrin beta 6 expression correlated significantly with CAF numbers and served as a valuable prognostic indicator for human gastric cancers.