title: 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and low-density lipoprotein receptor expression in diffuse-type and intestinal-type human gastric cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cancer cells require more cholesterol than normal cells. This requirement may be satisfied by higher hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity or low-density lipoprotein receptor expression or both. We investigated hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and low-density lipoprotein receptor expression in samples of gastric carcinoma and normal mucosa obtained from 30 patients. The samples of gastric carcinoma were divided into two categories according to Lauren's classification: diffuse-type and intestinal-type.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity was measured by radiometric assay and low-density lipoprotein receptor expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity was significantly higher in neoplastic tissue than in normal mucosa, both in diffuse-type and intestinal-type gastric cancer. Low-density lipoprotein receptor levels were significantly lower in neoplastic tissue than in normal mucosa of diffuse-type gastric cancer, whereas no significant difference was present between neoplastic tissue and normal mucosa in intestinal-type gastric cancer. Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity did not differ between intestinal-type and diffuse-type neoplastic samples, while low-density lipoprotein receptor levels were significantly higher in intestinal-type than in diffuse-type gastric cancer tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings show different behavior of cholesterol metabolism in the two types of gastric carcinoma and, therefore, suggest that different therapeutic strategies should be adopted.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Scientific Institute S. de Bellis, Castellana Grotte BA, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Notarnicola
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallini
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Leo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011973:Receptors, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases