Brief Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1997. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1997; 3(2): 86-86
Published online Jun 15, 1997. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v3.i2.86
Ultrastructural cytochemical study of enzymes expressed by signet ring cells in gastric cancer
Guang-Lin Yang, Yu-Ming Dong, Wei-Dong Du, Ying-Hao Su, Hong Zhang, Ji-Fen Wu, Dao-Bin Wang, Ai-Lian Xu
Guang-Lin Yang, Yu-Ming Dong, Wei-Dong Du, Ying-Hao Su, Hong Zhang, Ji-Fen Wu, Dao-Bin Wang, Ai-Lian Xu, Department of Pathology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Received: September 28, 1996
Revised: January 31, 1997
Accepted: March 1, 1997
Published online: June 15, 1997
Abstract

AIM: To study the ultrastructural localization of five marker enzymes (ALPase, ACPase, G6Pase, TPPase and CCOase) in gastric cancer signet ring cells to demonstrate their biologic behaviors.

METHODS: Five marker enzymes were examined in signet ring cells of seven gastric cancer patients by ultrastructural enzyme cytochemical techniques.

RESULTS: The number of corresponding organelles and the activities of marker enzymes, especially ACPase and TPPase, increased, leading to stronger mucus synthesis, secretion and digestion in gastric cancer signet ring cells. There was a lack of collagenous fibers in the stroma around the cancer nests.

CONCLUSION: Signet ring cell carcinoma is very invasive with metastasis rates due to the secretion of proteolytic enzymes.

Keywords: Stomach neoplasms/enzymology; Carcinoma, signet ring cell/enzymology; Alkaline phosphatase/analysis; Acid phosphatase/analysis