title: Expression of the E-cadherin/β-catenin/tcf-4 pathway in gastric diseases with relation to Helicobacter pylori infection: clinical and pathological implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and transcription factor 4 (TCF4) proteins in gastric diseases with relation to Helicobacter pylori infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 309 patients including 60 with superficial gastritis (SG), 57 with atrophic gastritis (AG) and 192 with gastric cancer (GC), were enrolled. The expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin, TCF4 proteins in the gastric mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry and H. pylori infection by immunohistochemistry and PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression rates of E-cadherin were significantly higher in SG and AG than in GC (P<0.01), while those of β-catenin in the nucleus were significantly lower in SG and AG than in GC (P<0.05). In GC cases, the expression rates of E-cadherin, β-catenin and TCF4 were significantly higher in the intestinal type than in the diffuse type (P<0.05). In GC patients, the expression rate of E-cadherin was significantly higher in the presence of H. pylori than in the absence of infection (P=0.011). Moreover, the expression level of TCF4 and β-catenin protein was significantly higher in the nucleus and cytoplasm in H. pylori positive than in H. pylori negative GC patients, especially in those with the intestinal type (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin progressively decreases during the process of GC tumorigenesis, while overexpression of TCF4 occurs. H. pylori infection is associated with a significant increase in the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus in GC patients, especially those with the intestinal type.
authors: Tumor Etiology and Screening Department of Cancer Institute and General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, and Key Laboratory of Cancer Etiology and Prevention (China Medical University), Liaoning Provincial Education Department, Shenyang, China E-mail : yyuan@mail.cmu.edu.cn.
authors: Xiu-Wen
authors: XW
authors: Yu
authors: Qian
authors: Q
authors: Xu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Yue-Hua
authors: YH
authors: Gong
authors: Yuan
authors: Y
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000073940:Transcription Factor 4; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D015820:Cadherins; C532096:TCF4 protein, human; D000073940:Transcription Factor 4; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin