title: Amplification and overexpression of c-met gene in Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinomas.
abstract: To reveal the role of oncogenes in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive gastric carcinomas, the amplification and overexpression of the c-met gene were examined by a competitive polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The proportion of c-met amplification and overexpression in EBV-positive and -negative carcinomas did not differ significantly. The amplification and overexpression of the c-met gene in EBV-negative gastric carcinomas were significantly associated with upper location, deeper invasion and lymphatic invasion, while in EBV-positive gastric carcinomas a significant correlation with c-met activation was observed only in deeper invasion. However, none of the observed associations of c-met amplification or overexpression with clinicopathological features in the EBV-positive and -negative carcinomas differed significantly in their strength or direction. These results suggest that the amplification and overexpression of c-met gene do not play a different role in the progression and metastasis of EBV-positive and EBV-negative gastric carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Center for Chronic Viral Diseases, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan. ryu23@gf6.so-net.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kijima
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hokita
authors.forename: Heiji
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshinaka
authors.forename: Tetsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Chihaya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koriyama
authors.forename: Yoshita
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eizuru
authors.forename: Suminori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akiba
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aikou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met