Detection of β-catenin, gastrokine-2 and embryonic stem cell expressed ras in gastric cancers

• Published in: International journal of clinical and experimental pathology 2010-11, Vol.3 (8), p.782-791
• Main Authors: Zhang, Fan, Tang, Jian Min, Wang, Li, Shen, Jing Ying, Zheng, Lin, Wu, Ping Ping, Zhang, Mei, Yan, Zhao Wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; beta Catenin - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - pathology; Embryonic Stem Cells - metabolism; Embryonic Stem Cells - pathology; Female; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - pathology; Humans; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Oncogene Protein p21(ras) - metabolism; Original; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Tissue Array Analysis
• ISSN: 1936-2625

ERas activation and GKN2 reduction in gastric cancer has raised some notices in recent years, while nuclear beta-catenin positivity is considered as a tumoral marker. In this study, we compared immunohistochemistry of beta-catenin, GKN2 and ERas on tumoral and non-tumoral mucosae of 50 gastric carcinomas and 13 gastric samples of cancer-free patients. Nuclear positivity of beta-catenin was strong in 31 non-tumoral mucosae (62%) and 29 tumoral mucosae (58%). It was absent in samples of cancer-free patients. There was a correlation between non-tumoral and tumoral zones for nuclear beta-catenin positivity (P=0.013). ERas was positive in 35 non-tumoral tissues (70%) and 31 tumoral tissues (62%) but negatvie in samples of cancer-free patients. It was weak and spotty in non-tumoral mucosae but strong and diffuse in tumors. Positivity of ERas was age-related (P=0.028). However it had background staining effect. GKN2 was expressed in 33 non-tumoral mucosae (66%) and 35 tumoral mucosae (70%). Though GKN2 staining was moderate to strong in non-tumoral tissues and was comparatively weaker in tumors, their difference was minimal and difficult to discern. Beta-catenin nuclear location could be considered as a paraneoplastic pattern which is considerably tumor-related. ERas may be a potential biomarker for gastric cancer, but advanced studies are wanted. GKN2 reduction is indiscernible by immunostaining.