Deregulation of E-cadherin-catenin complex in precancerous lesions of gastric adenocarcinoma.
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.
Chan
Annie On-On
AO
Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Wong
Benjamin Chun-Yu
BC
Lan
Hui-Yao
HY
Loke
Shee-Loong
SL
Chan
Wai-Kong
WK
Hui
Wai-Mo
WM
Yuen
Yui-Hung
YH
Ng
Irene
I
Hou
Laurence
L
Wong
Wai-Man
WM
Yuen
Man-Fung
MF
Luk
John Moon-Ching
JM
Lam
Shiu-Kum
SK
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
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