Background: Liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a newly discovered tumor suppressor gene that plays a role in apoptosis induction. However, the precise impact of LKB1 expression on gastric cancer (GC) progression and its correlation with survivin and p53 in GC have not yet been elucidated.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the significance of LKB1 expression and its correlation with p53 and survivin in GC. 
Patients and methods: In this study, LKB1 expression was detected in GC and adjacent paracancerous tissues from 150 patients through immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The relationship between LKB1 expression and clinical pathological factors in GC was analyzed, alongside its correlation with p53 and survivin expression. 
Results: LKB1 expression was reduced in GC tissues compared with adjacent paracancerous tissues (P =0.001). In patients with GC, lower LKB1 expression was associated with greater invasion depth (P =0.013), higher pTNM stage (P =0.009), and lymph node metastasis (P =0.029). Furthermore, LKB1 expression in GC was inversely associated with p53 (r =−0.181, P =0.027) and survivin expression (r =−0.198, P =0.015). Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that the expression of LKB1, p53 and survivin, as well as tumor differentiation, invasion, and pTNM and lymph node metastasis were all associated with overall survival (OS) (all P <0.05). Finally, multivariate analysis showed that LKB1 expression [hazard ratio (HR): 0.605 (0.414–0.882), P =0.009], p53 expression [hazard ratio (HR): 1.840 (1.232–2.750), P =0.003], and survivin expression [hazard ratio (HR): 1.561 (1.039–2.345), P =0.032] were all independent prognostic factors for patients with GC.
Conclusion: Our study suggests that LKB1 expression is reduced in GC, negatively correlated with p53 and survivin expression, and plays an important role in predicting invasion and metastasis of GC.
Keywords: gastric cancer, liver kinase B1, p53, survivin, prognosis