The potential value of PRL-3 expression as a useful molecular marker in gastric cancer progression should be evaluated comprehensively; it may predict recurrence and poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer after curative resection.
On the other hand, the prometastatic oncogene PRL-3 is commonly activated in both types of advanced gastric cancer, and might represent a relevant therapeutic target for gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis or peritoneal dissemination.
Our study examined PRL-3 expression both in the LNM (n = 107) and in the primary lesion (n = 137) of gastric cancer, and compared the overall survival rates.
High expression of PRL-3, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, is proved to be associated with lymph node metastasis in gastric carcinoma from previous studies.