Investigation of the potential role of checkpoint kinase2 in the regulation of gastric cancer stem cells

Purpose: To investigate the potential role of checkpoint kinase2 (CHEK2) in regulating gastric cancer stem cells.Methods: The abnormal features of cellular arrangements in early and advanced stages of gastric cancer were analysed using histology. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to evaluate the expressions of cancer stem cell markers CD44 and CHEK2 at different stages of gastric cancer.Results: When compared with the control tissue, the size of the cellular nucleus was enlarged as the gastric tumour developed to more advanced stages, and the expression of CD44 increased exponentially. The expression of CHEK2, a protein that regulates cell cycle and apoptosis was aberrantly up-regulated at the early stage of cancer, but as the tumour advanced, its expression became down-regulated.Conclusion: These results show that the higher expression of CHEK2 at the early stages of gastric cancer exerts control over gastric cancer stem cell proliferation. Thus, CHECK2 is a potential target for early treatment of gastric cancer.Keywords: Gastric cancer, CD44, CHEK2, Gastric cancer stem cells