Status of CHEK2 and p53 in patients with early-onset and conventional gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-associated death. Based on the age at diagnosis, GC is divided into early-onset GC (EOGC; ≤45 years) and conventional GC (CGC; >45 years). Mutations in the cell cycle checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) and TP53 genes are associated with several types of cancer; however, their genetic defects in GC remain poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the subcellular distribution of the CHEK2 protein and its redistribution following DNA damage, to improve the understanding of the DNA damage response. Genetic alterations and patterns of expression of CHEK2 and p53 proteins were investigated to identify potential biological markers and indicators of GC development. Additionally, the affected signaling pathways and their clinical importance in GC development and associated syndromes were investigated. A total of 196 GC samples (89 CGC and 107 EOGC samples) were used in the present study. DNA from 53 samples (18 CGC and 35 EOGC samples) was sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing technology to identify and compare common and rare mutations associated with GC. Subsequently, the cytoplasmic and nuclear expression levels of CHEK2, phosphorylated (p)-CHEK2 at threonine 68 and p53 in GC tissues were determined via immunohistochemistry. Sequencing resulted in the identification of 63 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CHEK2 gene amongst 5 different variants, and the intron variant c.319+379A>G was the most common SNP. In the TP53 gene, 57 different alterations were detected amongst 9 variant types, and the missense variant c.215C>G was the most common. Nuclear CHEK2 expression was high in both the EOGC and CGC subtypes. However, the prevalence of cytoplasmic CHEK2 expression (P<0.001) and nuclear p-CHEK2 expression (P=0.011) was significantly higher in CGC compared with in EOGC tissues. There was a statistically significant difference between high and low cytoplasmic CHEK2 expression in patients with p53-positive EOGC compared with in patients with p53-positive CGC (P=0.002). The present study was designed to determine the association between CHEK2 and p53 expression patterns in patients with EOGC and CGC, as well as genetic alterations in the CHEK2 and TP53 genes.