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Relationship between abnormal expression of α-catenin and biological behaviors of gastric carcinoma
Cai-Pu Xu, Yong-Ning Zhou, Yu Chen
Cai-Pu Xu, Yong-Ning Zhou, Department of Gastroenterology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
Yu Chen, Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China
Correspondence to: Cai-Pu Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China. xcpxx@medmail.com.cn
Received: March 21, 2003 Revised: April 21, 2003 Accepted: May 17, 2003 Published online: September 15, 2003
AIM
To assess the expression of α-catenin in gastric carcinoma and to determine its relation with tumor clinicopathological features and patient survival.
METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining of α-catenin was performed for 163 cases of gastric carcinomas,44 cases of gastric dysplasia and 25 cases of intestinal metaplasia,and 28 cases of atrophic gastritis.
RESULTS
Normal membranous staining was observed in intestinal metaplasia and control biopsy specimens for α-catenin. 76% of tumors and 43% of gastric dysplasia were stained abnormally for α-catenin. Only one of atrophic gastritis showed abnormal staining. Abnormal α-catenin expression occurred more significantly in Borrmann III/IV type than in Borrmann I/II type (P <0.01) A significantly higher proportion of signet-ring (91%), mucinous(79%) and tubular adenocarcinomas (78%) showed abnormal α-catenin expression compared with papillary adenocarcinomas (47%) (P <0.01) Morever, abnormal α-catenin staining occurred more frequently in diffuse type(95%, 38/40) than in intestinal type tumors (68%, 73/108) (P <0.01). No association was found between abnormal α-catenin and tumour invasive depth, lymph node metastasis and distance metastasis (P >0.05, respectively). A survival advantage was not noted in the tumors retaining normal staining of α-catenin.
CONCLUSION
Abnormal expression of α-catenin occurs frequently in gastric carcinoma, and is closely related to its poor differentiation. Abnormal expression of α-catenin in gastric dysplasia may be an early event in tumorigenesis.
Key Words: N/A
Citation: Xu CP, Zhou YN, Chen Y. Relationship between abnormal expression of α-catenin and biological behaviors of gastric carcinoma. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2003; 11(9): 1275-1278
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