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Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 15, 2004; 10(20): 3044-3047
Published online Oct 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i20.3044
Expression of mucins and E-cadherin in gastric carcinoma and their clinical significance
Hong-Kai Zhang, Qiu-Min Zhang, Tie-Hua Zhao, Yuan-Yuan Li, Yong-Fen Yi
Hong-Kai Zhang, Tie-Hua Zhao, Department of Pathology, Fuxing Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100038, China
Qiu-Min Zhang, Shenzhen Nanling Hospital, Shenzhen 518123, Guangdong Province, China
Yuan-Yuan Li, Yong-Fen Yi, Department of Pathology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Science Reserch Foundation of the Health Bureau of Chongqing Municipality, No.2000-48
Correspondence to: Dr. Yong-Fen Yi, Department of Pathology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China. yiyongfen1953@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-23-68485789
Received: January 2, 2004
Revised: January 18, 2004
Accepted: February 12, 2004
Published online: October 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the expression of three types of mucin (MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC) and E-cadherin in human gastric carcinomas and their clinical significance.

METHODS: Ninety-four gastric cancer specimens were classified according to WHO criteria and detected by immun-ohistochemical assay of expression of mucins and E-cadherin.

RESULTS: The positive expression rates of MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC and E-cadherin were 82% (77/94), 84% (79/94), 40% (38/94) and 56% (53/94) respectively. MUC1 expression was significantly correlated with the types of cancer (the positive rates of MUC1 in well and moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma were 91%, 87%, 71%, 71%, respectively, P < 0.05), age of patients (the positive rates of it among the people who are younger than 40 years, between 40-60 years and over 60 year were 74%, 81%, 89%, P < 0.05), lymph nodes involvement (the positive rates in the non-interfered group and the interfered group were 78%, 85%, P < 0.05) and tumor size (the positive rates in the tumors with the size less than 3 cm, 3-6 cm and larger than 6 cm were 69%, 92%, 69%, P < 0.05); MUC2 expression was significantly associated with types of cancers and had the strongest expression in mucinous carcinomas (the positive rates of MUC2 in well and moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet-ring cell carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma were 94%, 70%, 81%, 100%, P < 0.05), but it had no obvious relation to age, gender, tumor location, lymph nodes involvement, depth of invasion and metastasis to extra-gastric organs (P > 0.05); MUC5AC expression was not related to any of the characteristics investigated except that it had relation to gender, whereas MUC5AC showed the tendency to higher expression in less invasive lesions and lower expression in advanced stage cancers (P > 0.05); No significant difference was found for E-cadherin expression. There were strong positive relationships between the expression of MUC1 and E-cadherin, MUC2 and E-cadherin, MUC1 and MUC2 (R = 0.33, R = 0.22, R = 0.32, respectively, P < 0.05). According to the COX proportional hazards model, older patients, involvement of lymph nodes, different types of gastric cancer and MUC2 expression were significantly associated with poorer outcome of gastric carcinoma patients (β = 0.08, β = 3.94, β = 1.33, β = 0.75, respectively, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: MUC1 and MUC2 are good markers of different types of gastric cancer. MUC2 is especially a good marker of mucinous carcinoma. MUC1, MUC2 may interfere with the function of E-cadherin in gastric carcinomas, and have synergic effect on progression of gastric cancers.

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