BACKGROUND: With the growing global burden of gastric carcinoma (GC) and the urgent need for biomolecular targeted therapies, this study aimed to elucidate the relationship between EphA1 and the tumor microenvironment (focusing primarily on the key inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and tumor angiogenic cytokine VEGF) to identify a new potential therapeutic target.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: IHC and qRT-PCR were performed to quantify the protein and gene expression levels of EphA1, IL-6, and VEGF in normal mucosal tissues, carcinoma tissues, and paracarcinomatous tissues from 57 GC patients. Spearman’s rank correlation test was performed to determine the relationship between EphA1, IL-6, and VEGF expression levels. The relationships of EphA1 with clinicopathologic parameter and survival in GC patients were also evaluated.

RESULTS: The protein and gene expression levels of EphA1 were all attenuated gradually from carcinoma tissues to paracarcinomatous tissues and then to normal mucosal tissues in GC patients. Additionally, significant correlations between the overexpression of EphA1 with aggressive clinicopathological features and shorter survival time of GC patients were verified. In particular, we found a significant positive correlation between the expression of EphA1 and tumor microenvironment hallmark proteins IL-6 and VEGF in carcinoma tissues and paracarcinomatous tissues.

CONCLUSIONS: EphA1 can promote the occurrence and development of GC by its selective high expression in cancer tissues and its relationship with malignant clinical features and prognosis of GC patients. The underlying potential mechanism appears to involve enhancement of the tumor microenvironment, which via drives the expression of tumor microenvironment hallmark proteins IL-6 and VEGF.

Keywords: Receptor, EphA1, Receptors, Interleukin-6, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Endocrine-Gland-Derived, Aged, 80 and over, Biomarkers, Tumor, Biopsy, Carcinoma, Gastric Mucosa, Gene Expression Profiling, Immunohistochemistry, Interleukin-6, tumor microenvironment, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A