Caveolin-1 immuno-expression in human gastric cancer: histopathogenetic hypotheses

• Published in: Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 2008-12, Vol.453 (6), p.571-578
• Main Authors: Barresi, V., Giuffre’, G., Vitarelli, E., Todaro, P., Tuccari, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell - pathology; Caveolin 1 - metabolism; Chief Cells, Gastric - metabolism; Chief Cells, Gastric - pathology; Female; Gastric Fundus - metabolism; Gastric Fundus - pathology; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - pathology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Original Article; Pathology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Prognosis; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors
• ISSN: 0945-6317; 1432-2307
• DOI: 10.1007/s00428-008-0681-y

The immunohistochemical expression of caveolin-1 (cav-1) was evaluated in a series of gastric carcinomas (GC) and in the adjacent normal gastric mucosa. Cav-1 immuno-expression was found in most GC (94%) with a significantly higher amount in the Lauren intestinal type in comparison to the diffuse-type carcinomas. Interestingly, gastric intestinal metaplasia as well as the cells at the base and neck of gastric pits within all fundic mucosal fragments showed an evident cav-1 immuno-staining, suggesting a histogenetic derivation of these lesions from the trans -differentiation of chief cells or from a cryptic progenitor population at the base of fundic glands, as recently hypothesized by other authors. The absence of significant correlations between cav-1 immuno-expression and the other clinico-pathological parameters, such as the stage of disease or the patients overall survival, indicates that the role of cav-1 in GC is neither stage-specific nor related to prognosis.