[Immunohistochemical expression of the E-cadherin-catenin complex in gastric cancer].
BACKGROUND
The E-cadherin/catenin complex plays an essential role in the control of epithelial differentiation. Abnormal expression in tumors correlates with histological grade, advanced stage and poor prognosis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression pattern of E-cadherin/catenin complex in gastric carcinoma and analyze their association with tumor clinicopathological features and patient survival.


METHODS
Inmunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin, alpha and ss-catenin was performed from paraffin specimens of 65 gastric carcinomas.


RESULTS
Abnormal expression of E-cadherin, alpha and ss-catenin was demonstrated in 82%, 85% and 88% of gastric carcinomas, respectively. There was a significant correlation between abnormal expression and Lauren pathological classification and depth of infiltration, but not with tumor stage, positive lymph node metastases and survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal expression of E-cadherin, alpha and ss-catenin occurs frequently in gastric carcinoma and correlates with histological grade.
Guzmán
Pablo
P
Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. pguzman@ufro.cl
Araya
Juan
J
Villaseca
Miguel
M
Roa
Iván
I
Melo
Angélica
A
Muñoz
Sergio
S
Roa
Juan
J
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D015820:Cadherins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin