The Significance Of P120-catenin Expression In Gastric Cancer

To evaluate the expression of p120-catenin in relation to Lauren typing, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer.MethodsThe level of p120-catenin expression was examined in 35 cases of primary gastric cancer and 10 cases of normal stomach tissue using immunohistochemical method. The specimens of gastric cancers were obtained from 35 consecutive patients who underwent gastrectomy at the Department of Surgery ( First Teaching Hospital, China Medical University, Shen Yang, P. R. China) between January 2002 and December 2002. None of the patients received chemotherapy or radiotherapy before surgery.For microscopic examination, tissues were routinely fixed with formalin before being embedded in paraffin. A 4-mm section from each specimen block was stained with H & E for histological evaluation, and representative blocks were chosen for immunohistochemical study. In addition, normal gastric mucosa was used as internal control. Positive control was obtained form BD Transduction Laboratories. . Negative controls included adjacent section of the same block in which the primary antibody was replaced by phosphate-buffered saline (PBS).Mouse monoclonal antibodies against human p120 was purchased from BD Transduction Laboratories ( USA) . For the ease of data analysis, all tumors with loss of membranous expression were classified as abnormal.The correlation between the expression of the p120 and clinicopathological features was analysed for statistical significance by the x2 (chi-square) test andFisher's exact test.Results1. The expression of p120-catenin was observed in 17% primary gastric cancer and all normal stomach tissue.2. The rate of p120-catenin expression were 33.3% and 5.0% in intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer( P <0.05).3. The rate of p120-catenin expression were 44. 4% and 7.1% in stage I and stage II -III -IV(P<0.05).4. The rate of p120-catenin expression were 45.5% 4. 2% in lymph node metastasis negative and positive ( P <0.01).ConclusionLoss of membranous distribution of the p120 occurs frequently in gatric carcinoma. Examination of p120-catenin expression in primary gastric cancer helps evaluate its Lauren typing, TNM staging and lymph node metastasis.