Gastric Cancer
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 7, 2006; 12(25): 3965-3969
Published online Jul 7, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i25.3965
Study of Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway related molecules in gastric carcinoma
Xiao-Li Ma, Hai-Ji Sun, Yun-Shan Wang, Shu-Hong Huang, Jing-Wu Xie, Hong-Wei Zhang
Xiao-Li Ma, Yun-Shan Wang, Central Laboratory, Jinan Central Hospital, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China
Hai-Ji Sun, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, Shandong Province, China
Shu-Hong Huang, Jing-Wu Xie, Hong-Wei Zhang, College of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan 250010, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Foundation of Shandong Province Bureau of Health, No. 2005JZ001
Correspondence to: Dr. Xiao-Li Ma, Jinan Central Hospital, 105# Jinan Jiefang Road, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China. mxl7125@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-531-86557322 Fax: +86-531-86557322
Received: January 12, 2006
Revised: March 15, 2006
Accepted: March 21, 2006
Published online: July 7, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To study the expression of Sonic hedgehog pathway-related molecules, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Gli1 in gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: Expression of Shh in 56 gastric specimens including non-cancerous gastric tissues, gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric squamous cell carcinoma was detected by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of Gli1 was observed by in situ hybridization.

RESULTS: The positive rate of Shh and Gli1 expression was 0.0%, 0.0% in non-cancerous gastric tissues while it was 66.7%, 57.8% respectively in gastric adenocarcinoma, and 100%, 100% respectively in gastric squamous cell carcinoma. There was a significant difference between the non-cancerous gastric tissues and gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). Elevated expression of Shh and Gli1 in gastric tubular adenocarcinoma was associated with poorly differentiated tumors while the expression was absent in gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSION: The elevated expression of Shh and Gli1 in gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric squamous cell carcinoma shows the involvement of activated Shh signaling in the cellular proliferation of gastric carcinogenesis. It suggests Shh signaling gene may be a new and good target gene for gastric tumor diagnosis and therapy.

Keywords: Sonic hedgehog pathway, Sonic hedgehog, Gli1, Gastric carcinoma, Gastric adenocarcinoma, Gastric squamous cell carcinoma