Overexpression of Yes-Associated Protein Is a Marker for Early Diagnosis of Gastric Carcinoma

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a type of cellular adaptor protein and transcriptional co-activator. Recently, some investigators have found YAP to be overexpressed and highly activated in hepatic cancers and mammary cancers, suggesting its tumorigenicity.

Survivin is a new member of the inhibitor of apoptotic protein (IAP) family, which was initially cloned by the cDNA of the effector cell protease receptor-1 in the human genomic library in 1997. A research team led by Prof. Yan Xin, from The Fourth Laboratory of Cancer Institute (Shenyang, China) measured the expression of YAP and survivin in normal gastric mucosa, precancerous lesions, and gastric carcinoma using an immunohistochemical method to analyze the significance and correlations of the two factors with gastric carcinogenesis. Their study was published on August 28, 2009, in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

The investigators discovered that the expression of YAP and survivin in gastric carcinoma were positively correlated, and according to the data, they hypothesized that YAP might induce a high expression of cell proliferation-related factors and apoptotic inhibitors, such as Ki67, cIAP1, and survivin. Survivin might participate in gastric carcinogenesis, progression and metastasis by inhibiting apoptosis of gastric carcinoma cells, and regulating cellular mitosis. Whether YAP and survivin collaborate to contribute to gastric carcinogenesis and progression requires additional study, according to the researchers.