Maspin Expression In Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Correlation With HGF, MVD, E-cadherin And Caspase-3

Objective: Maspin is a member of the serpin (serine protease inhibitor) family and has been shown to be a suppressor of tumor growth and an inhibitor of angiogenesis as well as metastasis in several types of tumors. We studied maspin expression in tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer and to explore its relevant molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Paraffin-embedded tissues from normal mucosa (n=18), atypical hyperplasia (n=22), cancer (n=137) of the stomach were studied for maspin expression by immuno histochemistry. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin sections was investigated using labeled streptavidinbioton methods and done with micro wave-based antigen retrieval methods . Immunohistochemical studies were performed using the monoclonal antibodies. Microvessel density (MVD) in gastric cancer was labeled using anti-CD34 antibody. Maspin expression was compared with clinical parameters and MVD of tumors. Caspase-3 HGF E-cadherin expression were also detected in gastric carcinoma by immunohistochemistry. The relationship between Caspase-3 HGF E-cadherin and maspin expression was concerned as well. Maspin CD34 . Caspase-3 , HGF E-cadherin expression level were classified according to the staining intensity (- to +++). Results: The positive rates of maspin expression were 72.3% (13/18), 63.6%(14/22) and 40.9%(56/137) in normal mucosa, atypical hyperplasia and cancer of the stomach, respectively. Cancer less frequently expressed maspin than normal mucosa and atypical hyperplasia (P<0.05). Of the 137 tumors, 81 showed a negative immunostaining for maspin, 23 tumors stained +, 21 stained ++, and 12 stained +++. Maspin expression showed a significantly negative association with invasive depth, metastasis and differentiation (P <0.05), but not with tumor size,histological typesm or TNM staging (P>0.05). The positive rate of CD34 HGF were significantly higher in gastric cancer than in normal gastric mucosa (P <0.05) .The positive rate of E-cadherin Caspase-3 were significantly lower in gastric cancer than in normal gastric mucosa...