Abstract:Objective To explore the expression, function and clinical prognostic value of olfactomedin-like 2B (OLFML2B) in gastric cancer by bioinformatics methods.Methods The OLFML2B expression data were collected from Oncomine database. Correlation between the OLFML2B expression and the prognosis of gastric cancer were analyzed through Kaplan-Meier plotter database. Then the UALCAN online database was used to verify the expression and prognostic role of OLFML2B in gastric cancer. Finally, the genes associated with OLFML2B in gastric cancer and their possible biological processes were explored through LinkedOmics database.Results Of the 319 studies from Oncomine database analyzing the OLFML2B expression in different types of tumors, 39 studies showed statistical differences (OLFML2B expression was up-regulated in cancers in the 39 studies). Among them, 6 studies, which included 324 samples, revealed that OLFML2B was highly expressed in gastric cancer when compared with normal gastric tissue (fold change>2, P<0.000 1). Furthermore, the expression of OLFML2B was negatively correlated with the overall survival (OS) of gastric cancer patients, indicating that the high expression of OLFML2B was associated with the poor OS (P<0.05). Besides, subgroup analysis revealed that, in regard to diffuse or gastrointestinal gastric cancer patients, the survival time of OLFML2B-upregulated patients was shorter than that of OLFML2B-downregulated patients (P<0.05). The same upregulated status and prognostic role of OLFML2B in gastric cancer were confirmed in UALCAN database. Finally, LinkedOmics database suggested that OLFML2B may be involved in the development of gastric cancer via serving as an oncogene and influencing angiogenesis, cell adhesion, and cell cycle.Conclusions The expression of OLFML2B was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissue, and its high expression was associated with the poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. OLFML2B has the potential to serve as a biomarker for prognostic prediction of gastric cancer. It may work as an oncogene to influence the occurrence and development of gastric cancer.