Matrilsin expression is a useful marker of submucosal invasion and lymph node metastasis in early stage signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach.
BACKGROUND
Matrilysin (MMP-7) is considered to play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of this study was to examine the MMP-7 expression of early-stage undifferentiated gastric carcinoma, and to investigate differences between gastric signet ring cell (SIG) and other undifferentiated carcinomas (non-SIG).


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-7 was performed using specimens from 150 patients with early-stage gastric undifferentiated carcinomas (76 SIG, 74 non-SIG).


RESULTS
SIG had a larger proportion of mucosal-confined carcinoma and a lower rate of lymphatic invasion than non-SIG (P < 0.05). The incidence of the positive expression of MMP-7 in submucosal SIG was significantly higher than that of mucosal SIG (P < 0.01). In contrast, MMP-7 expression was frequently found in mucosal non-SIG, suggesting an apparent difference in the invasiveness between mucosal SIG and non-SIG. The larger the size of the mucosal SIG, the more frequently MMP-7 positive expression was demonstrated (P < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between MMP-7 positive expression and lymph node metastasis of early SIG (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Early SIG revealed less invasiveness than non-SIG in terms of clinicopathologic features and MMP-7 expression. Preoperative estimation of the MMP-7 expression might be useful as a predictor of submucosal invasion and lymph node metastasis in early SIG.
Aihara
Ryuusuke
R
Department of Surgery I, Gunma University Faculty of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. raihara@med.gunna-u.ac.jp
Mochiki
Erito
E
Kamiyama
Yoichi
Y
Ohno
Tetsuro
T
Asao
Takayuki
T
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7