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Midkine as a prognostic marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors

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Abstract

Purpose

Midkine (MK), a heparin-binding growth factor, has an important role in cancer progression. The outcome of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is correlated with tumor size and mitotic count. The aim of this study was to determine MK expression in GISTs.

Methods

Midkine was detected in 31 (55%) of 57 surgically resected GISTs by immunohistochemistry with a rabbit antibody against MK and peroxidase method.

Results

A significant worse outcome of MK-positive patients was found (< 0.05; log rank test). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed an independent prognostic impact (relative risk for overall survival 3.64; P < 0.05). Interestingly, MK expression was significantly associated with mitotic rate (P < 0.05; Chi-squared test), but not with tumor size (P = 0.97).

Conclusions

Taken together, MK is a prognostic marker for GIST patients. MK might also be a useful peripheral tumor marker since it can be detected in peripheral serum. Future studies should involve higher GIST patient numbers including tumor and serum samples for detection of MK.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Beate Roth for excellent technical assistance. Financial support for this study was provided by research grants from the Hamburger Krebsgesellschaft e. V. (J.T.K., E.F.Y., J.R.I.).

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Correspondence to Jussuf T. Kaifi.

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Kaifi, J.T., Fiegel, H.C., Rafnsdottir, S.L. et al. Midkine as a prognostic marker for gastrointestinal stromal tumors. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 133, 431–435 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-006-0180-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-006-0180-y

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