title: Gastric cancer patients less than 50 years of age exhibit significant downregulation of E-cadherin and CDX2 compared to older reference populations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is an increasing need to identify molecular markers, which can be used to prognosticate patient populations in gastric cancer. Whereas a significant number have been identified, very few have been characterized in the context of their ability to discriminate between young and old age groups in which a survival difference clearly exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated three markers with proven involvement in gastric cancer. The p53 tumor suppressor, the cell adhesion glycoprotein epithelial cadherin (CDH1) and the caudal-related homeobox transcription factor (CDX2) all of these have important roles in the aetiopathogenesis and/or progression of gastric cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjustments for TNM stage, tumor grade, histopathological characteristics (Lauren classification), we found significant differences in the expression of these proteins, particularly E-cadherin and CDX2 between young and elderly patients. However, these differences did not amount to a significant difference in survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the protein expression of p53, CDH1 and CDX2 significantly discriminates young patients with gastric cancer who have a better prognostic outlook from older patients, but this difference in expression does not contribute to a survival benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: claus@schildberg.de.
authors.forename: Claus Wilhelm
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Schildberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Molecular Oncology of Solid Tumors, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg and DKFZ Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abba
authors.affiliation: Cancer Registry, Department of Surgery, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merkel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agaimy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, St. Vincentius Hospital, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimmler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Klinikum Nord, Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schlabrakowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Croner
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Molecular Oncology of Solid Tumors, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg and DKFZ Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg Hendrik
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Leupold
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hohenberger
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Surgery and Molecular Oncology of Solid Tumors, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg and DKFZ Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Allgayer
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000071616:CDX2 Transcription Factor; C491270:CDX2 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins
keywords: CDX2; Gastric cancer; Survival; Young patients; p53