The Relationship Of Expressions Of EGFR,E-Cadherin And β-catenin Proteins In Intestinal Metaplasia And Gastric Adenocarcinoma

Objective:To study the expressions of EGFR, E-Cadherin and B-catenin proteins in intestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma and explore their relationships.Methods:68 cases of gastric IM were stained with HE and classified into SIM and AIM according to morphology changes of the epithelial cells.68 gastric IM and 55 gastric adenocarcinoma specimens were stained for EGFR, E-Cadherin and B-catenin proteins by Envision immunohistochemical technique,15 GIN specimens were selected as controls. SPSS 13.0 for Windows was utilized for statistical analysis.Results:1 The positive rates of EGFR protein in SIM, AIM, GIN and gastric carcinoma were 43.44%,52.63%,60.00% and 61.82% respectively. The expression of EGFR in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than SIM(χ2=2.683, p=0.101, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between AIM and gastric carcinoma(χ2=0.779, p=0.377, p>0.05); no significant difference between GIN and gastric carcinoma(χ=0.876, p=0.349, p>0.05) as well.2 The reduced expression rates of E-Cadherin in SIM, AIM, GIN and gastric carcinoma were 40.00%,65.79%,66.67% and 74.55%. The reduced expression of E-Cadherin in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than SIM(χ2=9.869, p=0.002, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between AIM and gastric carcinoma(χ2=0.863, p=0.360, p>0.05), and no significant difference between GIN and gastric carcinoma(χ2=0.079, p=O.779, p>0.05)was found. 3 The reduced expression rates of B-catenin in SIM, AIM, GIN and gastric carcinoma were 46.67%,68.42%,57.14% and 76.36% respectively. The reduced expression ofβ-catenin in gastric carcinoma was significantly higher than SIM(χ2=7.616, p=0.006, p<0.05). There was no significant difference between AIM and gastric carcinoma(χ2=0.721, p=0.396, p>0.05), as well as GIN and gastric carcinoma(χ2=0.721, p=0.396, p>0.05).Conclusions:1 The over-expression of EGFR protein may take part in the transformation from IM to gastric carcinoma especially in AIM as well as early stage of gastric carcinoma.2 Both reduced expressions of E-Cadherin andβ-catenin proteins may promote the transformation from AIM to gastric carcinoma.3 Morphology and molecular biology date shows that SIM may be merely response to stimuli caused by the changing environment while AIM may have malignant potential and could be regarded as preneoplastic lesions. The follow up of AIM patients may be practical to the early diagnosis of the gastric carcinoma.