Study of Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway related molecules in gastric carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of Sonic hedgehog pathway-related molecules, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Gli1 in gastric carcinoma.


METHODS
Expression of Shh in 56 gastric specimens including non-cancerous gastric tissues, gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric squamous cell carcinoma was detected by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Expression of Gli1 was observed by in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
The positive rate of Shh and Gli1 expression was 0.0%, 0.0% in non-cancerous gastric tissues while it was 66.7%, 57.8% respectively in gastric adenocarcinoma, and 100%, 100% respectively in gastric squamous cell carcinoma. There was a significant difference between the non-cancerous gastric tissues and gastric carcinoma (P<0.05). Elevated expression of Shh and Gli1 in gastric tubular adenocarcinoma was associated with poorly differentiated tumors while the expression was absent in gastric mucinous adenocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The elevated expression of Shh and Gli1 in gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric squamous cell carcinoma shows the involvement of activated Shh signaling in the cellular proliferation of gastric carcinogenesis. It suggests Shh signaling gene may be a new and good target gene for gastric tumor diagnosis and therapy.
Ma
Xiao-Li
XL
Central Laboratory, Jinan Central Hospital, 105# Jinan Jiefang Road, Jinan 250013, Shandong Province, China. mxl7125@yahoo.com.cn
Sun
Hai-Ji
HJ
Wang
Yun-Shan
YS
Huang
Shu-Hong
SH
Xie
Jing-Wu
JW
Zhang
Hong-Wei
HW
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
C400551:GLI1 protein, human; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C509239:SHH protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1