[Clinicopathological and biological features of micrometastasis in early gastric cancers].
To investigate the clinicopathological and biological features of micrometastasis in early gastric cancers.



Eleven cases of early gastric cancer with micrometastasis (micrometastatic, MM group) and 46 cases of early gastric cancer with lymph node metastasis (control group) were included in the study. Immunochemical staining of ssDNA, bcl-2, p53, E-cadherin, Ki-67, CD34 was performed. The superficial lesions, invasive fronts and lymph nodes were examined in both groups.



Positive rate of ssDNA at the superficial lesions in MM group was higher than that in control group. In MM group the positive rate of ssDNA in micrometastasis was higher than that at invasive fronts and in lymph nodes. Positive rate of bcl-2 at the superficial lesions in micrometastasis was higher than that at invasive fronts and lymph nodes. Positive rate of c-myc at the superficial lesions in MM group was higher than that in control group. Positive rate of E-cadherin and the percentage of microvascular areas at the lymph nodes in MM group was lower than those in control group. Proliferative ability of cancer cells at superficial lesions and lymph nodes in MM group was lower than those in control group. Lymph nodes <3 mm in micrometastasis accounted for 27.3%.



The pathological and biological features of micrometastasis in early gastric cancer show low positive rate of ssDNA, E-cadherin, Ki-67 and low percentage of microvascular areas at the lymph nodes.
Pan
Wen-sheng
WS
The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, China. wspan223@yahoo.com
Cao
Min
M
Ebihar
Yosiro
Y
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53