BACKGROUND: The significance of transketolase-like enzyme 1 (TKTL1) and p63 in the clinical progression and prognosis of gastric cancer patients has not been established.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the expression of TKTL1 and p63 in gastric cancer and their clinical significance.

METHODS: TKTL1 and p63 expression in 101 gastric cancer tissue specimens and 25 normal gastric mucosa tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS: The percentage of positive TKTL1 and p63 expression in gastric carcinomas was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosa tissues (P< 0.05). Positive TKTL1 and p63 expression significantly correlated with larger tumor size, deeper invasion, higher TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05). The expression of TKTL1 significantly correlated with p63 expression in gastric cancer tissues (r= 0.476, P< 0.01). Univariate analysis revealed that positive TKTL1 and/or positive p63 expression correlated significantly with shorter survival and lower 5-year survival rate (P= 0.001). Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that expression of TKTL1 and p63 is an independent prognostic factor (P< 0.05) in gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS: Both TKTL1 and p63 are independent prognostic factors of the poor outcome of gastric cancer patients.