Published online Jun 7, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i21.3182
Revised: August 31, 2004
Accepted: October 7, 2004
Published online: June 7, 2005
AIM: To evaluate the role of CDX2 homeobox protein as a predictor for cancer progression and prognosis as well as its correlation with MUC2 expression. CDX2 represents a transcription factor for various intestinal genes (including MUC2) and thus an important regulator of intestinal differentiation, which could previously be identified in gastric carcinomas and intestinal metaplasia.
METHODS: Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from 190 gastric carcinoma patients were stained with monoclonal antibodies recognizing CDX2 and MUC2, respectively. Immunoreactivity was evaluated semiquantitatively and statistical analyses including χ2 tests, uni- and multi-variate survival analyses were performed.
RESULTS: CDX2 was mostly expressed in a nuclear or supranuclear pattern, whereas MUC2 showed an almost exclusive supranuclear reactivity. Both antigens were present in >80% of areas exhibiting intestinal metaplasia. An immunoreactivity in >5% of the tumor area was observed in 57% (CDX2) or in 21% (MUC2) of the carcinomas. The presence of both molecules did not correlate with WHO, Laurén and Goseki classification (with the exception of a significantly stronger MUC2 expression in mucinous tumors). CDX2 correlated with a lower pT and pN stage in the subgroups of intestinal and stage I cancers and was associated with MUC2 positivity. A prognostic impact of CDX2 or MUC2 was not observed.
CONCLUSION: CDX2 and MUC2 play an important role in the differentiation of normal, inflamed, and neoplastic gastric tissues. According to our results, loss of CDX2 may represent a marker of tumor progression in early gastric cancer and carcinomas with an intestinal phenotype.