title: Epstein-Barr virus, beta-catenin, and E-cadherin in gastric carcinomas.
abstract: Activated beta-catenin is suggested to inhibit NF-kappaB activation, and we previously demonstrated that NF-kappaB nuclear positivity was more frequent in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected gastric carcinomas. It is controversial that beta-catenin and E-cadherin are prognostic markers in gastric carcinomas. To define a relationship between beta-catenin and EBV, and the prognostic value of beta-catenin and E-cadherin, we analyzed in situ hybridization for EBV-encoded small RNAs, beta-catenin, and E-cadherin immunohistochemistry, and clinicopathological features in 111 gastric carcinomas. EBV infection was detected in seven carcinomas (6.3%); none of seven showed beta-catenin nuclear accumulation, and five out of seven revealed beta-catenin membranous loss or cytoplasmic expression. Eighty cases (72.1%) showed beta-catenin alteration; i.e., loss of membrane staining in 65 (58.6 %), cytoplasmic expression in 35 (31.5%), and nuclear accumulation in 15 (13.5%). E-cadherin alteration was observed in 34 cases (30.6%) and correlated with beta-catenin alteration. On multivariate analysis, the combined immunoexpression group of beta-catenin nuclear accumulation/ E-cadherin alteration and the advanced TNM cancer stage group showed poor patient's survival (p<0.05). In conclusion, beta-catenin activation through nuclear accumulation hardly occurred in EBV-infected gastric carcinomas. The combined immunoexpression pattern of beta-catenin and E-cadherin can be used as a prognostic marker in gastric carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: In Mok
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jung Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Young A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Je Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Ki-Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Byeong Gwan
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kook Lae
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chul Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woo Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mee Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D051176:beta Catenin