Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) plays a critical role in cell proliferation and is overexpressed in a variety of cancers. Furthermore, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity are increased in neoplastic tissues in colon and breast cancer. However, few studies have examined these molecules in gallbladder cancer specimens. We observed the expression levels of ODC and GAD65 in benign and malignant lesions of the gallbladder and investigated their clinicopathological significance for the first time. The expression levels of ODC and GAD65 in specimens from gallbladder adenocarcinoma (n=108), peritumoral tissues (n=46), adenomatous polyps (n=15) and chronic cholecystitis (n=35) were detected using immunohistochemical methods. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were carried out to explore the clinical and pathological correlations. The levels of positive staining of ODC and GAD65 were significantly higher in gallbladder adenocarcinoma than in peritumoral tissues, adenomatous polyps and chronic cholecystitis. The Kaplan‑Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis showed that the expression of ODC and GAD65 correlated significantly with the one-year survival rate and the mean survival time of the patients postoperatively. We conclude that the overexpression of ODC and GAD65 are significant in the carcinogenesis and progression of gallbladder adenocarcinoma. They may be important biological markers for the evaluation of biological behaviors and the prognosis of gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

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