Increased SLC4A11 expression is associated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer

Solute carrier family 4 member 11 (SLC4A11) is a member of the SLC4 family of bicarbonate transporters, which have been reported to encode sodium-coupled bicarbonate transporters. In this study, SLC4A11 mRNA and protein expression in stomach tissue of 441 patients and 5 cell lines were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. SLC4A11 expression was predictively analyzed using Oncomine online resources. The results revealed that SLC4A11 mRNA and protein levels were both significantly higher in gastric cancer than those in normal gastric tissues (both P < 0.001). Statistical analysis revealed that SLC4A11 high expression was associated with Her-2 expression (P=0.018), N stage (P=0.031), TNM stage (P=0.015), and preoperative CEA levels (P=0.017). In univariate and multivariate analyses, SLC4A11 overexpression and advanced N stage showed a great prognostic value for 5-year survival. Our results suggest that SLC4A11 plays an important role in gastric carcinoma development and progression and that SLC4A11 could be a significant prognostic marker for gastric cancer patients.