[The clinical significance of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression in human gastric cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin (E-CD) and alpha-catenin (alpha-CA) in relation to biologic behavior of gastric cancer.


METHODS
The level of E-CD and alpha-CA expression was examined in 70 cases of primary gastric cancer by immunohistochemical technique.


RESULTS
The rate of E-CD and alpha-CA expression was significantly reduced in gastric cancer with more prominent malignant phenotype, such as tumor in stage III/IV with poor cell differentiation, invasion through serosa and lymph node (LN) metastasis. With the increase in the number and frequency of LN metastasis and its dissemination distal to second group LNs, the reduction in expression of the two adhesion molecules was increasingly significant. The frequency of LN metastasis and shed cancer cells in the peritoneum in patients with E-CD(-)/alpha-CA(-) and E-CD(+)/alpha CA(-) cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with E-CD(+)/alpha-CA(+) tumor. Liver metastasis was most frequent in all cases with E-CD(+)/alpha-CA(-) tumor.


CONCLUSIONS
Down regulation of E-CD and/or alpha-CA correlates with the malignant behavior of gastric cancer. Examination of E-CD and alpha-CA expression in primary gastric cancer helps evaluate its intensity of LN metastasis, TNM staging and prognosis.
Dai
D
D
Cancer Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Chen
J
J
Xu
H
H
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051178:alpha Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051178:alpha Catenin