title: Deregulation of E-cadherin-catenin complex in precancerous lesions of gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Decrease in expression of the E-cadherin-catenin complex is an important element in gastric carcinogenesis. However, the expression of the complex in gastric precancerous lesions has not been well studied. The present study aimed to examine the serial change in expression of E-cadherin-catenin complex in the precancerous lesions of gastric cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gastrectomy specimens of 40 patients with gastric cancer were retrieved. Areas with chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma were identified and immunostained for alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and E-cadherin. The results were scored semiquantitatively by two independent pathologists using a validated scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease in score was observed in 5% (1/22) of alpha-catenin, 0% (0/22) of beta-catenin and 9% (2/22) of E-cadherin in chronic atrophic gastritis patients, and in 28% (5/18) of alpha-catenin, 67% (10/15) of beta-catenin and 57% (8/14) of E-cadherin in intestinal metaplasia patients. The scoring of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and E-cadherin correlated with each other. Forty-three percent of patients had concordant changes of scores along the gastritis-adenocarcinoma sequence. There was no association between Helicobacter pylori status and E-cadherin-catenin complex expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deregulation of the E-cadherin-catenin complex was observed in the majority of precancerous lesions in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, which has potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Annie On-On
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Benjamin Chun-Yu
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Hui-Yao
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Shee-Loong
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.forename: Wai-Kong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Wai-Mo
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Yui-Hung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Wai-Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Man-Fung
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: John Moon-Ching
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.forename: Shiu-Kum
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin