title: Combined evaluation of mucin antigen and E-cadherin expression may help select patients with gastric cancer suitable for minimally invasive therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MUC1 mucin is known to be highly expressed in carcinomas that show invasive growth and poor prognosis. Impairment of adhesion molecule E-cadherin expression has been widely accepted as a critical event for cancer invasion and metastasis. The present study evaluated the combination of mucin and E-cadherin status as a possible predictor of patients suitable for minimally invasive therapy for gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and nine paraffin-embedded specimens of gastric carcinoma (141 early, 68 advanced) were examined by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies against MUC1 mucin (MUC-1-CORE, DF3), MUC2 mucin (Ccp58) and E-cadherin (anti-E-cad).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gastric carcinoma with MUC1-positive expression demonstrated malignant characteristics. Normal E-cadherin expression showed an inverse correlation with MUC1 expression. Patients with early gastric carcinoma who had a combination of normal E-cadherin and MUC1-negative expression had no recurrence and a favourable prognosis. Moreover, cancers with normal E-cadherin/MUC1-negative expression were not found at an advanced stage in differentiated-type carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A normal E-cadherin/MUC1-negative expression pattern in gastric cancer is a favourable marker. Preoperative estimation of the E-cadherin and MUC1 status of an endoscopic biopsy specimen may help select appropriate patients for minimally invasive treatment of gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Saga Medical School, 5-1-1 Nabeshima, Saga, 849-8501, Japan. masaka@orange.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitajima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018579:Patient Selection; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins; C524625:MUC2 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1; D055262:Mucin-2; D009077:Mucins