p-STAT3 expression associates with prognosis and inflammatory indexes in gastric cancer patients.
| Title: | p-STAT3 expression associates with prognosis and inflammatory indexes in gastric cancer patients. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Tran DH; Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Center for Gastrointestinal Surgery, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Le TS; Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Department, Center for Gastrointestinal Surgery, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Nguyen TH; Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Center for Gastrointestinal Surgery, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Thai KT; Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, Center for Gastrointestinal Surgery, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Nguyen TML; Department of Biochemistry, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Nham TPL; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Tran ND; Department of Pathology, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Nguyen TL; Department of Pathology, Military Hospital 103, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Nguyen LT; Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.; Bui KC; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. cuongbk@benhvien108.vn.; Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam. cuongbk@benhvien108.vn.; Department of Experimental Medicine, 108 Military Central Hospital, Hanoi, 100000, Vietnam. cuongbk@benhvien108.vn.; Vietnamese - German center for Medical Research (VG-CARE), Hanoi, Vietnam. cuongbk@benhvien108.vn. |
| Source: | Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2026 Apr 16; Vol. 16 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Apr 16. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Nature Publishing Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101563288 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 20452322 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Sci Rep Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: London : Nature Publishing Group, copyright 2011- |
| MeSH Terms: | Stomach Neoplasms*/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms*/metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms*/mortality ; STAT3 Transcription Factor*/metabolism ; Inflammation*/pathology ; Inflammation*/metabolism; Neutrophils/pathology ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism ; Lymphocytes/pathology ; Humans ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Aged ; Adult ; Phosphorylation |
| Abstract: | Despite advances in early detection and treatment, the prognosis for advanced gastric cancer (GC) remains poor, highlighting the need to explore molecular mechanisms driving tumor progression. Phosphorylated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (p-STAT3) is a central mediator in these processes, but its role in GC biology and prognostic significance remains controversial. We analyzed p-STAT3 expression in tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 68 GC patients using immunohistochemistry and evaluated associations with inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), tumor characteristics, and survival outcomes. p-STAT3 positivity was significantly higher in GC tissues (32.4%) than in normal tissues (13.2%, p = 0.008). Positive p-STAT3 expression correlated with elevated NLR (p = 0.014) and PLR (p = 0.041). Although tumor stage, size, and lymph node metastasis did not show significant differences in p-STAT3 expression (p > 0.05), multivariate analysis identified p-STAT3 as an independent predictor of poor survival (HR = 5.711, 95% CI 1.180-27.643; p = 0.030). p-STAT3-positive patients had significantly worse cumulative survival rates (47.4%) compared to p-STAT3-negative patients (92.7%, p = 0.001). These results indicate that p-STAT3 overexpression is linked to systemic inflammation and poor prognosis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in GC management.; (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest. Ethics and consent to participate: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects and/or their legal guardian(s). The study protocol was approved by the University Ethical Committee (Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam) in accordance with the ethical standards as laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki. |
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| Grant Information: | 108.02-2019.324 Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Gastric cancer; Inflammation; Prognostic biomarker; Survival; p-STAT3 |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (STAT3 Transcription Factor); 0 (STAT3 protein, human); 0 (Biomarkers, Tumor) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260416 Date Completed: 20260417 Latest Revision: 20260508 |
| Update Code: | 20260508 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13087300 |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-026-35070-y |
| PMID: | 41991918 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article