J Korean Med Sci.  2000 Dec;15(6):655-666. 10.3346/jkms.2000.15.6.655.

Prognostic significance of E-cadherin/catenin complex expression in gastric cancer

• Joo YE
• Park CS
• Kim HS
• Choi SK
• Rew JS
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2157546
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2000.15.6.655

Abstract

Abnormal expression of E-cadherin/catenin complex in cancer has been associated with poor differentiation and acquisition of invasiveness, suggesting a possible role of this protein as an invasion suppressor. In this study, we conducted an immunohistochemical investigation of all components of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in 65 gastric cancer patients. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin and, alpha- and gamma-catenin occurred more frequently in diffuse than in intestinal type of gastric cancer, and correlated with poor differentiation. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin correlated with poor survival. Abnormal expression of all four components of the complex was associated with poorly differentiated and diffuse-type carcinoma, and poor survival. In the multivariate analysis, abnormal expression of the E-cadherin/catenin complex was not an independent prognostic factor. These results suggest that the E-cadherin/catenin complex may be a useful marker of differentiation and prognosis in gastric cancer. Further studies are warranted to clarify the impact of the E-cadherin/catenin complex on prognostic factor of gastric cancer.

Keyword

Cadherins; Cytoskeletal Proteins; Stomach Neoplasms; Immunohistochemistry; Neoplasm Staging; Pronosis; Survival Analysis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Cadherins/biosynthesis*
Cytoskeletal Proteins/biosynthesis*
Female
Human
Male
Middle Age
Prognosis
Stomach Neoplasms/pathology
Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism*
Survival Analysis
Tumor Markers, Biological/biosynthesis*