[APC gene expression in precancerous lesions of stomach examined by light and electron microscopic in situ hybridization].
OBJECTIVE
To study the significance of abnormal expression of APC gene in gastric cancer and its precancerous lesions.


METHODS
The expression of APC gene was examined in 119 cases of precancerous lesions and 40 cases of gastric cancers by light and electron microscopic in situ hybridization technique.


RESULTS
1. The positive rate of APC gene expression in normal gastric mucosa, mild dysplasia, moderately severe dysplasia, severe dysplasia and gastric cancer was 83.3%, 77.8%, 62.5%, 25.9%, and 6.7%-8.0%, respectively. 2. In 4 types of intestinal metaplasia (IM), APC gene expressed much more frequently in colonic type than in small intestinal type (P < 0.05), more frequently in incomplete type of IM than in complete type (P > 0.05). The positive rate of incomplete colonic type was the highest. 3. Under electron microscope, the APC positive signals were located in the cytoplasm matrix of gastric mucosa cells. They decreased gradually from normal parietal cells, dysplasia cells to cancer cells till negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal expression of APC gene occurs mainly in precancerous lesion-severe dysplasia. It is considered as an early event during gastric carcinogenesis. Detecting APC gene in gastric mucosa helps predict the trend of dyplasia to become malignant, and diagnose gastric cancer in early stage.
Wu
H
H
Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
Yang
G
G
Dong
Y
Y
D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein