Expression And Significance Of Annexin A7 And Annexin A11 In Gastric Cancer

Purpose: Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cancer-related death worldwide because of its rapid growth and strong tendency of local invasiveness and distal metastasis. Recent researches found that several Annexin family members may play a role in the oncogenesis, tumor progression and metastasis of some carcinomas. Investigation on the expression of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 in gastric cancer may provide some clues in the oncogensis, progression and metastasis of gastric cancer and may be helpful for its diagnosis, anti-tumor treatment and prognosis evaluation.Method: S-P immunhistochemical stain was employed to detect the expression of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 in 20 cases of normal gastric tissue, 60 cases of gastric cancers in which 30 cases with lymphatic metastasis. The expression of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 was compared among normal gastric tissue, primary gastric cancer, and the lymphatic metastatic tumor. The difference of their expression among different groups of patient's gender, age, tumor size, stage, type, and differentiation was also analyzed.Result:1. Approximately half (53.3%) of the gastric cancer cases are positive for Annexin A7 expression, with a degree of intensity from weak (+) to strong (+++), more than the positive cases in normal gastric tissue (25.0%) in which the intensity is all weak (+). The difference between the two groups is significant (P<0.05). Approximately three quarters (76.7%) of the lymphatic metastatic tumors are positive for Annexin A7 expression, more than the positive cases in primary gastric cancer (53.3%) and more cases with a strong (+++) intensity. The difference between the two groups is highly significant (P<0.01).2. Approximately two third (68.3%) of the gastric cancer cases are positive for Annexin A11 expression, with a degree of intensity from weak (+) to strong (+++), more than the positive cases in normal gastric tissue (30.0%) in which the intensity is all weak (+). The difference between the two groups is highly significant (P<0.01). An even higher percentage (83.3%) of the lymphatic metastatic tumors are positive for Annexin A11 expression, more than the positive cases in primary gastric cancer (68.3%) and even more cases with a strong (+++) intensity. The difference between the two groups is highly significant (P=0.01).3. The expression intensity of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 in gastric cancer and lymphatic metastatic tumor is positively correlated. The rs for gastric cancer is 0.313 (P=0.015) and the rs for lymphatic metastastic tumor is 0.576 (P=0.001).4. The positive rates of Annexin A7 in tubular adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, and signet-ring cell carcinoma are 63.6%, 27.5%, and 20.0% respectively. Only the difference between tubular adenocarcinoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma is significant (P<0.05).5. The positive rates of Annexin A11 in tubular adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma, and signet-ring cell carcinoma are 70.5%, 63.6%, and 60.0% respectively. The difference is not significant (P>0.05).6. The differences of positive rate of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 between different groups of patient's gender, age, tumor size, stage, and differentiation are all not significant (P>0.05).Conclusion:1. The positive rates of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 expression in gastric cancer observed using immunohistochemical stain (53.3% and 68.3%) are higher than normal gastric cancer (25.0% and 30.0%) and intensity is stronger in many of the positive cases; The positive rates of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 expression in lymphatic metastatic tumor (76.7% and 83.3%) is higher than the primary gastric cancer and intensity is stronger in most of the positive cases. The expression intensity of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 in gastric cancer and lymphatic metastastic tumor are positively correlated. These findings suggest that Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 may play important roles in the development and metastasis of gastric cancer.2. The positive rates of Annexin A7 expression in different types of tumor are different and the tubular adenocarcinoma has the highest positive rate. However, the positive rates of Annexin A11 expression in different types of tumor have no significant difference. Therefore, Annexin A7 expression may be related with tumor type but not Annexin A11. The positive rates of Annexin A7 and Annexin A11 expression among the different groups of gender, age, tumor size, stage, and differentiation are not significantly different.