[E-cadherin expression and CDH1 promoter methylation in sporadic and hereditary gastric cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of E-cadherin (E-cad) and CDH1 gene encoding E-cad in the occurrence of sporadic or hereditary gastric cancer.


METHODS
Nineteen normal gastric mucosal issue specimens, 19 specimens of hereditary gastric cancer (diagnosed according to ICG-HGC criteria), and 19 specimens of sporadic gastric cancer examined for E-cad expression and CDH1 promoter methylation using immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR (MSP).


RESULTS
The protein expression of E-cad were significantly reduced in both of the cancer tissues (P<0.001) compared with that in the normal gastric mucosal tissues, and showed no significant difference between the two cancers (P=0.84). CDH1 promoter hypermethylation was found in 10 out of the 19 hereditary gastric cancer tissues, a rate significantly higher than that in sporadic gastric cancer tissues (3/19, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
CDH1 promoter hypermethylation is probably an important factor contributing to reduced E-cad expression in sporadic gastric cancer but not in hereditary gastric cancer.
Second Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. szhaoy@126.com
Xiao-Jun
XJ
Li
Yang
Y
Zhao
Hong
H
Ren
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins