Mee Joo1, Hye Kyung Lee, Yun Kyung Kang. 1. Department of Pathology, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, 85, 2-ga, Jeo-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul 100-032, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, CD44s and CD44v6 in gastric adenocarcinoma and to investigate whether these proteins are objective in markers in predicting the lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 99 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma, the expressions of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, CD44s and CD44v6 were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were significantly associated with histological type, but not with tumor progression and lymph node metastasis. In contrast, the expressions of CD44s and CD44v6 showed significant relationships with lymphovascular invasion, TNM stage, p53 expression, high Ki-67 LIs and lymph node metastasis. Under univariate analysis, the diffuse-type of Lauren classification, CD44s expression, CD44v6 expression and p53 expression were predictive of lymph node metastasis. By multivariate analysis, diffuse-type and p53 expression were independent factors of lymph node metastasis; among the CAMs investigated, only CD44v6 expression was a significant risk factor related to lymph node metastasis in the advanced carcinoma group. CONCLUSION: Expressions of CD44s and CD44v6 play an important role in tumor progression; especially, CD44v6 expression may be a useful predictor of lymph node metastasis, while the expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin complex are more probably related to tumor morphology than to tumor progression.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, CD44s and CD44v6 in gastric adenocarcinoma and to investigate whether these proteins are objective in markers in predicting the lymph node metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 99 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma, the expressions of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, CD44s and CD44v6 were studied by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were significantly associated with histological type, but not with tumor progression and lymph node metastasis. In contrast, the expressions of CD44s and CD44v6 showed significant relationships with lymphovascular invasion, TNM stage, p53 expression, high Ki-67 LIs and lymph node metastasis. Under univariate analysis, the diffuse-type of Lauren classification, CD44s expression, CD44v6 expression and p53 expression were predictive of lymph node metastasis. By multivariate analysis, diffuse-type and p53 expression were independent factors of lymph node metastasis; among the CAMs investigated, only CD44v6 expression was a significant risk factor related to lymph node metastasis in the advanced carcinoma group. CONCLUSION: Expressions of CD44s and CD44v6 play an important role in tumor progression; especially, CD44v6 expression may be a useful predictor of lymph node metastasis, while the expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin complex are more probably related to tumor morphology than to tumor progression.