Malignant transformation of gastric hyperplastic polyps: alteration of phenotypes, proliferative activity, and p53 expression.

The aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism of malignant transformation of gastric hyperplastic polyps, focusing on phenotypic expression, cell proliferation, and p53 overexpression. Twenty-two lesions of gastric hyperplastic polyps with neoplastic foci were selected for this study. The phenotypes were divided into 3 types (G, gastric; incomp I, incomplete intestinal; and comp I, complete intestinal), according to immunohistochemical stains (human gastric mucin [HGM], MUC2, and CD10). The cell proliferative activity by Ki-67 and overexpression of p53 protein were also examined. Eleven of these lesions contained carcinoma components (CA, category 5 by the Vienna classification), 6 of which were accompanied by low-grade dysplasia (LGD, category 3) and 4 of which were accompanied by high-grade dysplasia (HGD, category 4). Another 2 were composed only of HGD, and the remaining 9 were composed of both LGD and HGD components. As a result, 15 LGD, 15 HGD, and 11 CA components were recognized. The 15 LGD components were classified as 1 G type and 14 incomp I type. All hyperplastic components expressed HGM, 5 (22.7%) of which were accompanied by focal intestinal metaplasia demonstrated by MUC2 expression, whereas intestinalization frequently occurred in neoplastic components (93% of LGD, 53% of HGD, and 64% of CA components). The labeling index was 22.2% in hyperplastic, 42.2% in LGD, 55.7% in HGD, and 53.9% in CA components. p53 protein overexpression was recognized in none of hyperplastic, in 40% of the LGD, in 60% of the HGD, and in 45% of the CA components. These results suggest the importance of the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in malignant transformation of hyperplastic polyps. Interestingly, intestinalization frequently occurs during neoplastic transformation, although it is not common in the surrounding hyperplastic components. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.