Original Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2010; 16(5): 571-577
Published online Feb 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i5.571
Significance and relationship between Cripto-1 and p-STAT3 expression in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions
Jian-Guo Zhang, Jing Zhao, Yan Xin
Jian-Guo Zhang, Jing Zhao, Yan Xin, The Fourth Laboratory of Cancer Institute, Department of Tumor Pathology of General Surgery Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China
Author contributions: Zhang JG performed the whole experiment, statistical analysis and wrote the manuscript; Xin Y designed the study, provided financial support, vital experimental equipments for this work and was involved in revising the manuscript; Zhao J participated in the experiment.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30973503 and Special Fund for Climbing Scholars of Universities in Liaoning Province, China, 2009-2010
Correspondence to: Yan Xin, Professor, The Fourth Laboratory of Cancer Institute, Department of Tumor Pathology of General Surgery Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning Province, China. yxin@mail.cmu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-24-83282351 Fax: +86-24-83282375
Received: October 28, 2009
Revised: December 11, 2009
Accepted: December 18, 2009
Published online: February 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To explore the relationship between Cripto-1 (CR-1) and tyrosine phosphorylation STAT3 (p-STAT3) expressions in gastric cancer (GC) and gastric carcinogensis and metastasis.

METHODS: The PV9000 immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of CR-1 and p-STAT3 in 178 cases of GC, 95 matched normal gastric mucosa, 40 chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 48 intestinal metaplasia (IM) and 25 dysplasia (DYS).

RESULTS: The positive rates of CR-1 and p-STAT3 expression were significantly higher in CAG (65.0% and 60.0%), in IM (83.3% and 77.1%), DYS (80.0% and 68%) and GC (71.3% and 60.1%) than in normal gastric mucosa (43.2% and 41.1%, P < 0.05), respectively. The expressions of CR-1 and p-STAT3 (78.3% and 66.7%) were significantly higher in GC with lymph node metastasis than in those without metastasis (53.1% and 42.9%, P < 0.05). CR-1 expression was also related to histological and Lauren’s types of GC (P < 0.001). Furthermore, there was positive relationship between CR-1 and p-STAT3 expressions in GC (rk = 0.189, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of CR-1 and p-STAT3 may play important roles in gastric carcinogenesis and lymph node metastasis. CR-1 and p-STAT3 expression in GC was positively correlated, and the relevant molecular mechanism requires further investigations.

Keywords: Cripto-1; Phosphorylation STAT3; Gastric cancer; Precancerous lesions; Immunohistochemistry