Role of the gastrin-gastrin receptor system in the expansive growth of human gastric neoplasms.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gastrin is one of the most important gut hormones. However, the role of the gastrin-gastrin receptor (GR) system in the growth of gastric tumors is still unclear.

METHODS

We examined serum gastrin levels in 957 patients with early gastric carcinoma. Next, we raised antibody against the GR and examined GR expression in 5 gastric carcinoma cell lines and 48 human gastric tumor tissues. In 28 cases, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was performed and morphological tumor changes were examined.

RESULTS

Serum gastrin levels were significantly higher in patients with elevated tumors than in patients with depressed tumors (p = 0.02). All gastric carcinoma cell lines expressed GR. Thirty-one of 48 (65%) gastric tumors expressed GR, and its expression was prominent in elevated-type tumor with an intestinal histologic feature. Of 28 patients who underwent eradication therapy, 9 showed gastric tumors that became flat or depressed. In these 9 cases, GR expression was detected in all tumors, and the decrease in gastrin levels was more prominent than in those without morphological change (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The gastrin-GR system plays an important role in the elevated morphology of gastric tumors.