CD10-positive stromal cells in gastric carcinoma: correlation with invasion and metastasis.
BACKGROUND
CD10 is a cell surface metalloproteinase expressed by a variety of normal cell types, including lymphoid precursor cells, germinal center B lymphocytes and some epithelial cells. Although accumulating data indicate that CD10 expression by stromal cells is involved in colorectal carcinogenesis and it is a novel prognostic factor in breast carcinoma, CD10-positive stromal cells and their correlation with invasion and metastasis have not been studied in gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study was to immunohistochemically investigate the rate of CD10 production in the stromal cells in our gastric carcinoma collection and clarify its correlation with invasion and metastasis.


METHODS
One hundred and sixteen cases of gastric carcinoma were analyzed immunohistochemically using a monoclonal CD10 antibody (clone 56C6).


RESULTS
The expression of CD10 by stromal cells was significantly higher in the primary gastric carcinomas than in normal and dysplasia mucosas (P = 0.014). More frequent expression of CD10 by stromal cells was detected in differentiated carcinoma than in undifferentiated carcinoma (P < 0.001). CD10 expression by the stromal cells was associated with depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Stromal CD10 expression was lower in gastric carcinoma without vessel invasion than in those with vessel invasion (P = 0.001). However, no association was observed between stromal CD10 expression and TNM stage. In differentiated carcinoma, stromal CD10 expression was associated with the depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, vessel invasion and TNM stage (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that stromal cells expressing CD10 may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis. CD10 expression by stromal cells seems to promote invasion and metastasis of differentiated gastric carcinoma.
Huang
Wen-Bin
WB
Department of Pathology, Clinical School of Medical College of Nanjing University/Nanjing Jinling Hospital, 210002 Jiangsu Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Zhou
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Chen
Jie-Yu
JY
Zhang
Li-Hua
LH
Meng
Kui
K
Ma
Heng-Hui
HH
Lu
Zhen-Feng
ZF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D015260:Neprilysin