FGFR4 Gly388Arg Polymorphism Affects the Progression of Gastric Cancer by Activating STAT3 Pathway to Induce Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Abstract

Purpose Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) plays a critical role in cancer progression involving in tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. This study clarified the role of FGFR4-Arg388 variant in gastric cancer (GC), and more importantly highlighted the possibility of this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) as potential therapeutic targets. Materials and Methods FGFR4 polymorphism was characterized in advanced GC patients to perform statistical analysis. FGFR4-dependent signal pathways involving cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and resistance to oxaliplatin (OXA) in accordance with the SNP were also assessed in transfected GC cell lines. Results Among 102 GC patients, the FGFR4-Arg388 patients showed significantly higher tumor stage (p=0.047) and worse overall survival (p=0.033) than the Gly388 patients. Immunohistochemical results showed that FGFR4-Arg388 patients were more likely to have higher vimentin (p=0.025) and p-STAT3 (p=0.009) expression compared with FGFR4-Gly388 patients. In transfected GC cells, the overexpression of FGFR4-Arg388 variant increased proliferation and invasion of GC cells, increasing resistance of GC cells to OXA compared with cells overexpressing the Gly388 allele. Conclusion The exploration mechanism may be through FGFR4-Arg388/STAT3/epithelial to mesenchymal transition axis regulating pivotal oncogenic properties of GC cells. The FGFR4-Arg388 variant may be a biomarker and a candidate target for adjuvant treatment of GC.