Gastric Cancer
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2008; 14(13): 1990-1996
Published online Apr 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1990
Relationship between cell adhesion molecules expression and the biological behavior of gastric carcinoma
Yong-Quan Chu, Zai-Yuan Ye, Hou-Quan Tao, Yuan-Yu Wang, Zhong-Sheng Zhao
Yong-Quan Chu, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang Province, China
Zai-Yuan Ye, Hou-Quan Tao, Yuan-Yu Wang, Department of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
Zhong-Sheng Zhao, Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Chu YQ and Zhao ZS contributed equally to this work; Chu YQ, Zhao ZS, Tao HQ, Wang YY, Ye ZY, designed research; Chu YQ, Wang YY, Ma HF, Li SG and Tao HQ performed research; Zhao ZS contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Chu YQ, Wang YY analyzed data; and Chu YQ, Ma HF, and Wang YY wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Zhong-Sheng Zhao, Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang Province, China. tangyaping@sina.com
Telephone: +86-571-85893289
Fax: +86-571-85131448
Received: August 29, 2007
Revised: January 3, 2008
Published online: April 7, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and the biological behavior of gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: Expression of syndecan-1, E-cadherin and integrin β3 were evaluated by immunohistochemical study in a total of 118 gastric carcinomas and 20 non-tumor gastric mucosas.

RESULTS: The expressions of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin were significantly lower in gastric carcinoma compared to non-tumor gastric mucosa, and the low expression rates were positively correlated to the tumor invasion depth, vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (P < 0.01 in all cases). However, the expression of integrin β3 was significantly higher in gastric carcinoma compared to non-tumor gastric mucosa, and the high expression rates were positively correlated to the tumor invasion depth, vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis (P < 0.01 in all cases). In addition, the three protein expressions were correlated to the tumor growth pattern (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0.05 respectively), but not correlated to tumor differentiation (P > 0.05, P > 0.05 and P > 0.05 respectively). Positive correlation was observed between the expressions of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin, but they which were negatively correlated to the expression of integrin β3 (P < 0.01 in all cases). Univariate analysis demonstrated that the mean survival time and 5-year survival rate were lower in the cases with low expressions of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin and high expression of integrin β3 (P < 0.01, in all cases). COX multivariate analysis showed that the expression level of syndecan-1 could be an independent prognostic index of gastric carcinoma (P < 0.01), whereas E-cadherin and integrin β3 could not be independent indexes (P > 0.05, P > 0.05 respectively).

CONCLUSION: The low expression of syndecan-1 and E-cadherin and the high expression of integrin β3 are significantly correlated with the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, and they are highly correlated with each other. Therefore they may serve as important prognostic markers of gastric carcinoma.

Keywords: Cell adhesion molecules; Gastric Carcinoma; Invasion; Metastasis; Prognosis