Abnormal immunoreactivity of the E-cadherin-catenin complex in gastric carcinoma: Relationship with patient survival

• Published in: Gastroenterology (New York, N.Y. 1943) Vol. 112; no. 1; pp. 46 - 54
• Main Authors: Jawhari, A, Jordan, S, Poole, S, Browne, P, Pignatelli, M, Farthing, MJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha Catenin; beta Catenin; Biological and medical sciences; Cadherins - analysis; Cytoskeletal Proteins - analysis; Desmoplakins; Female; gamma Catenin; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Lymph Nodes - chemistry; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Stomach Neoplasms - chemistry; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Survival Analysis; Trans-Activators; Tumors; Human; Measurement; Stomach; Carcinoma; Regular expression; Biological marker; Malignant tumor; Cadherin; Adhesion; Survival; Result; Digestive diseases; Genetics; Cytoskeleton; Biological effect; Mutation; Cell; Gastric disease
• ISSN: 0016-5085; 1528-0012
• DOI: 10.1016/S0016-5085(97)70218-X

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The E-cadherin-catenin complex plays a critical role in the maintenance of normal tissue architecture. Mutation of any of its components is believed to result in loss of cell-cell adhesion and contribute to neoplasia. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin in gastric carcinoma and dysplasia and determine any relationship with tumor characteristics and survival.
METHODS: Immunoperoxidase staining of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin was performed using 89 gastric carcinomas, lymph node metastases, and gastric biopsy specimens from 14 patients with dysplasia and 10 healthy controls.
RESULTS: Membranous staining was observed in control biopsy specimens for all components of the complex. Up to 57% of gastric dysplasia and 90% of tumors stained abnormally for one or more components of the cadherin-catenin complex. Abnormal E-cadherin and gamma-catenin staining occurred more frequently in diffuse than intestinal tumors (P > 0.0005 and > 0.05, respectively). No association with tumor grade or stage was found. A survival advantage was noted in intestinal and diffuse tumors retaining membranous expression of beta-catenin, independent of tumor type, grade, or stage (P > 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal expression of the E-cadherin-catenin complex occurs frequently in gastric carcinoma. The close correlation with poor survival suggests that abnormal beta-catenin may be a useful prognostic marker. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jan;112(1):46-54)