The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach

Abstract Background Gastric cancer is associated with chronic inflammation, but there is still much to understand about the tumor microenvironment and the underlying tumor-promoting mechanisms. The Map kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) pathway is a regulator of inflammatory cytokine production...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fares Qeadan, Pranshu Bansal, Joshua A. Hanson, Ellen J. Beswick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-03-01
Series:Journal of Translational Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-020-02294-z
_version_ 1818856060527575040
author Fares Qeadan
Pranshu Bansal
Joshua A. Hanson
Ellen J. Beswick
author_facet Fares Qeadan
Pranshu Bansal
Joshua A. Hanson
Ellen J. Beswick
author_sort Fares Qeadan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Gastric cancer is associated with chronic inflammation, but there is still much to understand about the tumor microenvironment and the underlying tumor-promoting mechanisms. The Map kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) pathway is a regulator of inflammatory cytokine production that we have been studying in gastrointestinal cancers. Here, we set out to determine the significance of this gene in gastric cancer along with its downstream mediators and if there were differences in the primary tumors with and without metastasis. Methods Human gastric cancer tissues with and without metastasis were examined for MK2 expression and cytokine profile in organ culture supernatants. Advanced statistical methods including a lower triangular correlation matrix, novel rooted correlation network, linear and logistic regression modeling along with Kruskal–Wallis testing with Sidak correction for multiple testing were applied to gain understanding of cytokines/chemokines linked to metastasis. Results The MK2 pathway is strongly linked with metastasis and a panel of cytokines. Gene expression was able to classify gastric cancer metastasis 85.7% of the time. A significant association with a panel of cytokines was found, including G-CSF, GM-CSF, Mip-1β, IFN-α, MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Mip-1β was found to have the strongest association with MK2 and metastasis after Sidak correction for multiple testing. Conclusions MK2 gene expression and a novel associated cytokine panel are linked to gastric cancer metastasis. G-CSF is the strongest cytokine to differentiate between metastasis and non-metastasis patients and had the lowest P value, while Mip-1β showed the strongest association with MK2 and metastasis after Sidak correction. MK2 and associated cytokines are potential biomarkers for gastric cancer metastasis. The novel intercorrelation analysis approach is a promising method for understanding the complex nature of cytokine/chemokine regulation and links to disease outcome.
first_indexed 2024-12-19T08:18:30Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e53742249665498582ad772d81b3ad2d
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1479-5876
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-19T08:18:30Z
publishDate 2020-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Translational Medicine
spelling doaj.art-e53742249665498582ad772d81b3ad2d2022-12-21T20:29:27ZengBMCJournal of Translational Medicine1479-58762020-03-0118111310.1186/s12967-020-02294-zThe MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approachFares Qeadan0Pranshu Bansal1Joshua A. Hanson2Ellen J. Beswick3Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of UtahNew Mexico Oncology Hematology ConsultantsDepartment of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences CenterDivision of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of UtahAbstract Background Gastric cancer is associated with chronic inflammation, but there is still much to understand about the tumor microenvironment and the underlying tumor-promoting mechanisms. The Map kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) pathway is a regulator of inflammatory cytokine production that we have been studying in gastrointestinal cancers. Here, we set out to determine the significance of this gene in gastric cancer along with its downstream mediators and if there were differences in the primary tumors with and without metastasis. Methods Human gastric cancer tissues with and without metastasis were examined for MK2 expression and cytokine profile in organ culture supernatants. Advanced statistical methods including a lower triangular correlation matrix, novel rooted correlation network, linear and logistic regression modeling along with Kruskal–Wallis testing with Sidak correction for multiple testing were applied to gain understanding of cytokines/chemokines linked to metastasis. Results The MK2 pathway is strongly linked with metastasis and a panel of cytokines. Gene expression was able to classify gastric cancer metastasis 85.7% of the time. A significant association with a panel of cytokines was found, including G-CSF, GM-CSF, Mip-1β, IFN-α, MCP-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Mip-1β was found to have the strongest association with MK2 and metastasis after Sidak correction for multiple testing. Conclusions MK2 gene expression and a novel associated cytokine panel are linked to gastric cancer metastasis. G-CSF is the strongest cytokine to differentiate between metastasis and non-metastasis patients and had the lowest P value, while Mip-1β showed the strongest association with MK2 and metastasis after Sidak correction. MK2 and associated cytokines are potential biomarkers for gastric cancer metastasis. The novel intercorrelation analysis approach is a promising method for understanding the complex nature of cytokine/chemokine regulation and links to disease outcome.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-020-02294-zGastric cancerMap kinase-activated protein kinase 2Granulocyte colony-stimulating factorCytokinesChemokines
spellingShingle Fares Qeadan
Pranshu Bansal
Joshua A. Hanson
Ellen J. Beswick
The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
Journal of Translational Medicine
Gastric cancer
Map kinase-activated protein kinase 2
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
Cytokines
Chemokines
title The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
title_full The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
title_fullStr The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
title_full_unstemmed The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
title_short The MK2 pathway is linked to G-CSF, cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer: a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
title_sort mk2 pathway is linked to g csf cytokine production and metastasis in gastric cancer a novel intercorrelation analysis approach
topic Gastric cancer
Map kinase-activated protein kinase 2
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor
Cytokines
Chemokines
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12967-020-02294-z
work_keys_str_mv AT faresqeadan themk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT pranshubansal themk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT joshuaahanson themk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT ellenjbeswick themk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT faresqeadan mk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT pranshubansal mk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT joshuaahanson mk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach
AT ellenjbeswick mk2pathwayislinkedtogcsfcytokineproductionandmetastasisingastriccanceranovelintercorrelationanalysisapproach