title: [Correlation of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin gene expression with the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the association of the expressions of E-cadherin, beta;- and gamma-catenins in gastric carcinoma tissues with the invasion and metastasis of the tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 60 patients with gastric carcinoma, the paraffin-embedded specimens including 60 carcinoma tissues, 20 precancerous lesions (10 intestinal metaplasia and 10 dysplasia specimens) and 20 corresponding normal tissues adjacent to the carcinomas were obtained for detecting E-cadherin, beta;- and gamma-catenin expressions by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive staining for E-cadherin, beta- and gamma-catenins was clearly observed on the cellular membrane throughout the epithelium in all the normal and metaplastic gastric mucosa. In 1 out of the 10 specimens of dysplastic mucosa, the staining for E-cadherin and beta;-catenin was absent but gamma-catenin staining appeared normal. Up to 80% (48/60) of the gastric carcinoma specimens presented abnormal staining for at least one of the components of the cadherin- catenin complex, showing a close correlation to Ming's classification, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). The rates of abnormal expression were 6.67% for E-cadherin, 55% for beta;-catenin and 58.33% for gamma-catenin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormal expression of E-cadherin, beta;- and gamma-catenins results in loss of epithelial cell-to-cell adhesion, with leads to uncontrolled cell growth, and may therefore participate in malignant transformation of the cells, and closely associates with the invasive growth and metastasis of human gastric carcinoma.
authors: Center of Tumor Research and Treatment, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Ji'nan 250021, China.
authors: Cai-xia
authors: CX
authors: Wang
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Yang
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Song
authors: Zhao-lin
authors: ZL
authors: Du
authors: Zhong-hua
authors: ZH
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin