Diffuse and intestinal type gastric carcinomas differ in their expression of apoptosis related proteins.
BACKGROUND
Gastric carcinomas can be divided into intestinal and diffuse types, with the last type having a worse prognosis.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether specific patterns in the expression of apoptosis related proteins correlate with carcinoma type and/or prognosis


METHODS
The expression of Fas, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was studied immunohistochemically and the extent of apoptosis and proliferation was investigated in 11 cases of intestinal type and in eight cases of diffuse type carcinoma.


RESULTS
Fas was expressed in all intestinal type and in one diffuse type carcinoma. Bcl-xl was expressed in 10 of 11 intestinal type and in one of eight diffuse type carcinomas. Bcl-2 was expressed in lamina propria immune cells. iNOS was expressed in six of 11 intestinal type and in four of eight diffuse type carcinomas, and COX-2 was expressed in eight of 11 intestinal type and in six of eight diffuse type carcinomas.


CONCLUSIONS
Fas and Bcl-xl expression can differentiate between intestinal type and diffuse type gastric carcinomas. No differences in apoptosis and proliferation between intestinal type and diffuse type gastric carcinomas were observed.
van der Woude
C J
CJ
Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. woudevannee@planet.nl
Kleibeuker
J H
JH
Tiebosch
A T G M
AT
Homan
M
M
Beuving
A
A
Jansen
P L M
PL
Moshage
H
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017209:Apoptosis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis*
C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007527:Isoenzymes; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases