title: a-Methylacyl coenzyme A racemase is highly expressed in the intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and high-grade dysplasia lesions of the stomach.
abstract: To study a-Methylacyl coenzyme A racemase (AMACR) expression in gastric intestinal-type adenocarcinoma and its precursors, we performed an immunohistochemical assay (using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method) on 106 paraffin-embedded gastric mucosal biopsy samples and 25 gastrectomy samples (37 negative for dysplasia; 30 indefinite for dysplasia; 22 low-grade dysplasia; 25 high-grade dysplasia; and 34 invasive intestinal adenocarcinoma). The results showed that AMACR staining was uniformly negative in the groups negative for dysplasia and indefinite for dysplasia. Only 1 of 22 (4.5%) low-grade dysplasia showed weak staining for AMACR. In the groups of high-grade dysplasia and invasive intestinal-type adenocarcinoma, however, 19 of 25 (76%) and 18 of 34 (52.9%) were positive for AMACR respectively. Expression of AMACR was not correlated with location, H. Pylori infection or intestinal metaplasia. These results suggested that AMACR may play a role in the intermediate stage of gastric carcinogenesis. The high level expression of AMACR in high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma suggests that it may be a useful biomarker in distinguishing high-grade dysplasia and carcinoma from low-grade dysplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nanjing Medical College Affiliated Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Jiangsu, P. R. China. huangwb908@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaobin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tonghai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases / Q000032:analysis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019998:Racemases and Epimerases; C108352:alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase