Frequent translocalization of beta-catenin in gastric cancers and its relevance to tumor progression.
Altered distribution of beta-catenin has been found in many human malignancies including gastric cancer, but its reason(s) and biological implications have not yet been fully clarified. By the methods of frozen tissue array-based immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and PCR-SSCP followed by DNA sequencing, the patterns of beta-catenin distribution in the subtypes of gastric cancers and their premalignant and non-cancerous counterparts were examined and the potential correlation of beta-catenin alteration with invasion was elucidated. Membranous beta-catenin was detected constantly in non-cancerous mucosa but became reduced or absent in cancer tissues. The cytoplasmic and nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin could be observed in premalignant (atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia) and cancer tissues, particularly in those infiltrated into deep muscular region. beta-catenin mutation was not detected in all of tissue samples with and without translocalized beta-catenin. These results indicate that beta-catenin translocalization is a common phenomenon in gastric cancers as well as their related lesions. The loss of membranous and the gain of cytoplasmic and nuclear beta-catenin in gastric cancers checked in this study are not due to the mutational event. beta-catenin molecules translocalized in the nuclei are closely correlated with tumor invasion.
Cheng
Xiao-Xin
XX
Cancer Institute, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, P.R China.
Sun
Yuan
Y
Chen
Xiao-Yan
XY
Zhang
Kai-Li
KL
Kong
Qing-You
QY
Liu
Jia
J
Li
Hong
H
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D021381:Protein Transport; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051176:beta Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin