[Expression and clinical significance of c-kit oncogene in gastrointestinal stromal tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the c-kit protein in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).


METHODS
Paraffin embedded materials from 53 benign GISTs, 13 potentially malignant and 55 malignant cases were analysed for c-kit expression by immunohistochemical method, while using leiomyomas and schwannomas as controls. Positive signals were shown in cytoplasma and cell membrane.


RESULTS
Of 122 GISTs, 118 (97%) were positive for c-kit. Localization of positive signals was accurate. The rate of c-kit protein in benign, potentially malignant and malignant cases was 98% (53/54), 93% (12/13), 96% (53/55) respectively. Compared with benign GIST, the positivity of c-kit in metastasis or recurrent cases decreased, but c-kit protein expression rate was not significantly different between the three patterns of GIST (chi(2) = 1.167, P > 0.05). Leiomyomas and schwannomas were typically c-kit negative.


CONCLUSIONS
As a sensitive and specific marker of GIST, c-kit seems to be a useful antibody in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GIST, but it may not be used as a prognostic index.
Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Xiaohong
X
Liu
Dalie
D
Ma
Lili
L
Wu
Chenguang
C
Bai
Hongjie
H
Hu
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit