OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of midkine (MK) and Ki67 in gastric carcinoma (GC) and their relation with the clinicopathologic characteristics.

METHODSThe expressions of MK and Ki67 in 71 GC and 20 adjacent normal tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expressions of MK and Ki67 were significantly higher in GC than in adjacent normal tissues (76.1% vs 0, and 73.2% vs 5%, respectively, P<0.05). MK and Ki67 expressions were correlated with the infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0.05), and a significant correlation was found between MK and Ki67 expressions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONGC tissues have high expressions of MK and Ki67, indicating that MK and Ki67 play important roles in promoting the tumorigenesis and progression of GC.

Cytokines ; metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Nerve Growth Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism