RESEARCH ARTICLE Serum OPN Expression for Identification of Gastric Cancer and Atrophic Gastritis and Its Influencing Factors

Background: Most studies have found that osteopontin (OPN) expression level is related to the poor prognosis of gastric cancer. However, few studies have examined the relationship between OPN expression and gastric precancerous diseases, and the potential role of OPN in the formation and development of GC. We investigated the relationships between serum OPN levels and the risks of gastric cancer (GC) and its precancerous disease, to explore the diagnostic efficacy of serum OPN level for GC and atrophic gastritis and its influencing factors. Methods: A total of 1,452 patients were enrolled, including 609 with mild superficial gastritis (SG), 594 with atrophic gastritis (AG) and 249 with GC. The levels of serum OPN and serum Helicobacter pylori IgG antibody were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum OPN levels increased from mild SG (1.99¡1.91 ng/ml) to AG (2.37¡2.27 ng/ml) to GC (5.94¡4.52 ng/ml) (P#0.002), along with increasing severity of gastric disease. OPN levels were significantly higher in patients with G