Gastric Cancer
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 21, 2007; 13(23): 3189-3198
Published online Jun 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i23.3189
Phenotypic classification of gastric signet ring cell carcinoma and its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis
Meng-Meng Tian, Ai-Lian Zhao, Zhong-Wu Li, Ji-You Li
Meng-Meng Tian, Ai-Lian Zhao, Zhong-Wu Li, Ji-You Li, Department of Pathology, Peking University School of Oncology and Beijing Cancer Hospital, No.52. Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100036, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by National Basic Research Priority Program 973 Project 1 998 051 203 from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China
Correspondence to: Ji-You Li, Professor, Department of Pathology, Peking University School of Oncology and Beijing Cancer Hospital, No.52. Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100036. China. lijiyou@263.net
Telephone: +86-10-88196291
Received: January 11, 2007
Revised: April 10, 2007
Accepted: April 16, 2007
Published online: June 21, 2007
Abstract

AIM: To distinguish subtypes of gastric signet ring cell (SRC) carcinoma by investigating the expression of gastric and intestinal phenotypic markers, and to study the significance of phenotypic classification in predicting tumor progression and outcome.

METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was performed in 66 cases of SRC carcinoma with MUC2, VILLIN, CDX2, Li-cadherin antibodies as intestinal phenotype markers and MUC5AC, HGM, MUC6 antibodies as gastric phenotype markers, and the relationship was analyzed between the phenotypic expression pattern and clinicopathologic parameters, as well as the 3-year survival rate.

RESULTS: Expression of intestinal phenotypic markers was positively associated with tumor size, wall invasion, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. Cases expressing one or more intestinal markers had a significant lower survival rate than cases expressing none of the intestinal markers.

CONCLUSION: The SRC carcinomas expressing intestinal phenotype markers exhibited a high pro-liferative potential, bad biological behaviors and poor prognosis. Examination of phenotype expression may be useful in distinguishing histological type and in predicting the prognosis of gastric SRC carcinoma.

Keywords: Gastric cancer; Signet ring cell; Phenotype; Immunohistochemistry