Brief Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 14, 2010; 16(10): 1274-1278
Published online Mar 14, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i10.1274
Clinical significance of Fas and FasL protein expression in gastric carcinoma and local lymph node tissues
Qian Li, Jie Peng, Xin-Hua Li, Ting Liu, Qing-Chun Liang, Gui-Ying Zhang
Qian Li, Jie Peng, Xin-Hua Li, Ting Liu, Gui-Ying Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
Qing-Chun Liang, Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, China
Author contributions: Li Q performed the majority of the experiments and wrote the manuscript; Peng J, Li XH and Liu T were involved in the design of experiment and editing of the manuscript; Zhang GY mentored the editing of the manuscript; Liang QC provided the experiment guidance.
Supported by The Grant From Science and Technology Agency of Hunan Province, China, No. 06sk3019
Correspondence to: Dr. Gui-Ying Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China. guiyingzhang@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-731-84327106 Fax: +86-731-84327345
Received: November 6, 2009
Revised: January 9, 2010
Accepted: January 16, 2010
Published online: March 14, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the relation of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) protein expression with carcinogenesis and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect Fas and FasL protein expression in 64 gastric carcinoma tissue samples and 20 normal gastric tissue samples. Relation between FasL and Fas expression, age and gender of gastric cancer patients, and pathological subtype and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer was analyzed.

RESULTS: The Fas expression level was significantly higher in normal gastric tissue samples than in gastric carcinoma tissue samples (85.0% vs 25.0%, P < 0.001), while the FasL expression level was significantly lower in normal gastric tissue samples than in gastric carcinoma tissue samples (30.0% vs 81.3%, P < 0.001). The Fas expression level was significantly higher in invasive lymph nodes than in non-invasive lymph nodes (82.9% vs 56.5%, P < 0.003) and in well-differentiated gastric carcinoma tissue samples than in poorly-differentiated gastric carcinoma tissue samples (50.0% vs 18.0%, P = 0.015). The FasL expression level was significantly lower in well-differentiated gastric carcinoma tissue samples than in poorly- differentiated gastric carcinoma tissue samples (42.9% vs 84.0%, P = 0.021). The Fas and FasL expression levels (25.0% and 81.3%) were significantly different in gastric carcinoma tissue samples (P < 0.001), but had a non-linear correlation (P = 0.575).

CONCLUSION: Abnormal Fas and FasL expressions in gastric carcinoma and lymph node tissues are involved in carcinogenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer.

Keywords: Gastric carcinoma, Lymph nodes, Fas, Fas ligand FasL