Mitochondrial DNA Copy Numbers in Gastric Cancer: A Possible Biomarker for Estimating Cancer Progression

Researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan have investigated the relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy numbers (mtDNA-CN) and gastric cancer progression. The study involved analyzing DNA samples extracted from gastric cancer tissues of 182 patients. The results showed that mtDNA-CN was significantly associated with tumor stage, indicating its potential utility as a biomarker for cancer progression.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found no sex differences in mtDNA-CN and no correlation with age, but significant differences according to tumor stage.
• The mtDNAcn of intestinal type by Laurén classification was significantly larger than that of diffuse type.
• There was no significant difference in mtDNA-CN between HER2-positive and -negative tissues.
• Multiple regression analyses showed that only the tumor stage was a significant variable, while Laurén classification was not.
• The research concluded that mitochondrial genomic abnormalities contribute to the progression of gastric cancer independently of HER2 overexpression.
• The study highlights the potential of mtDNA-CN as a biomarker for estimating cancer progression.

Statistics:

• 182 DNA samples were analyzed from gastric cancer tissues.
• mtDNA-CN was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• The study found significant differences in mtDNA-CN according to tumor stage (p 0.05).

Sources:

• Mitochondrial Dna Copy Numbers In Gastric Cancer Tissues: a Possible Biomarker for Estimating Cancer Progression. Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2025.
• Hokkaido University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, N12 W5 Kita Ku, Sapporo 0600812, Japan.
• Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England (publisher of Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology).
• Health & Medicine Week, May 23, 2025, p 2972.