Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIM: KLF4 (Krüppel-like factor 4) is a zinc-finger transcriptional factor expressed in a variety of tissues in humans, and plays an important role in different physiological functions. Studies suggested that KLF4 is associated with the development and progression of various tumors. The study was to investigate the expression of KLF4 in gastric cancer and its correlation with clinicopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of KLF4 was detected in cancer and adjacent tissues of 102 surgical specimens by immunohistochemistry. The normal gastric tissues collected simultaneously was also examined. RESULTS: KLF4 was expressed in cell nuclei and cytoplasm. Strong expression was detected in adjacent tissue and normal gastric mucosa. Weak expression was detected in intraepithelial neoplasia and negative expression in gastric cancer. There is statistical significance among groups(P<0.05). The KLF4 expression in gastric cancer decreased with the progression from stage I to stage IV(P<0.05). The expressions of KLF4 in groups with and without lymph node metastasis were 63.3％ and 78.6％, respectively. There was statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of KLF4 decreased in gastric cancer and showed correlation with gastric carcinogenesis, staging and lymph node metastasis. KLF4 might be the prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Key words: gastric cancer, KLF4, immunohistochemistry, therapeutics