USP6NL and MSX2 as the novel diagnostic markers in gastric cancer patients

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal malignancies in the world. WNT signaling pathway has a key role in the occurrence and progression of GC. USP6NL belongs to the GAP protein family that regulates the WNT signaling by the β-catenin stabilization during tumor progression. Therefore, for the first time in the present study, we examined the role of USP6NL in tumor progression through the regulation of WNT signaling pathway among GC patients. C-MYC and MSX2 were also assessed in GC patients as the WNT target genes to evaluate the role of USP6NL during GC progression via WNT regulation. Eighty-three freshly tumor and corresponding normal tissues were enrolled to assess the levels of USP6NL, MSX2, and C-MYC mRNA expressions using the Real time polymerase chain reaction. There was significant higher levels of USP6NL in non-cardia compared with cardia tumors (p = 0.03). There was also significant higher levels of USP6NL expressions in non-cardia tumors of females compared with males (p = 0.032). Low-grade tumors with MSX2 up regulation were significantly associated with low survival (p = 0.012). MSX2 up regulation was significantly correlated with lower survival among the female GC patients (p = 0.041). The levels of USP6NL was also significantly correlated with the levels of MSX2 (p ≤ 0.0001) and C-MYC (p = 0.001). USP6NL/MSX2/C-MYC axis can be introduced as a reliable diagnostic marker or therapeutic target in GC following the further in-vitro and animal studies.