[Relationship between E-cadherin and growth pattern of gastric cancer and degree of cell differentiation].

In this study, calcium dependent intercellular adhesion molecule, E-Cadherin (E-CD), was examined immunohistochemically in 46 resected gastric cancer specimens. It was found that 61% (28/46) of the specimens showed a reduction or even absence of E-CD expression, whereas in the intact gastric mucosa adjacent to the tumor including the gastric foveolae epithelia, epithelia of chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia grandular epithelia. E-CD expression was well preserved. However, further analysis revealed that 77% (17/22) of Ming's expanding type gastric cancer retained E-CD expression, while Ming's infiltrative type of gastric cancer lost all E-CD expression (100%, 24/24). Single scattered cancer cells usually lack the expression of E-CD. The E-CD expression correlates with gastric cancer cell differentiation. It is concluded that presence or absence of calcium dependent intercellular adhesion molecules could determine the growth pattern of gastric cancer and degree of cell differentiation.