Jawhari A, Jordan S, Poole S, Browne P, Pignatelli M, Farthing M J
Digestive Diseases Research Centre, St. Bartholomew's, England.
Gastroenterology. 1997 Jan;112(1):46-54. 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.
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.
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).
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.
E-钙黏蛋白-连环蛋白复合物在维持正常组织结构中起关键作用。其任何一个组分发生突变都被认为会导致细胞间黏附丧失并促进肿瘤形成。本研究的目的是检测E-钙黏蛋白以及α、β和γ连环蛋白在胃癌及发育异常组织中的表达情况，并确定其与肿瘤特征及生存情况的关系。
采用免疫过氧化物酶法对89例胃癌、淋巴结转移灶、14例发育异常患者的胃活检标本以及10例健康对照者的标本进行E-钙黏蛋白以及α、β和γ连环蛋白染色。
在对照活检标本中观察到该复合物所有组分均有膜染色。高达57%的胃发育异常组织和90%的肿瘤组织对钙黏蛋白-连环蛋白复合物的一种或多种组分染色异常。E-钙黏蛋白和γ连环蛋白染色异常在弥漫型肿瘤中比肠型肿瘤更常见（分别为P < 0.0005和P < 0.05）。未发现与肿瘤分级或分期有关联。在保留β连环蛋白膜表达的肠型和弥漫型肿瘤中观察到生存优势，且与肿瘤类型、分级或分期无关（P < 0.005）。
E-钙黏蛋白-连环蛋白复合物的异常表达在胃癌中频繁发生。与较差生存情况的密切相关性表明，异常的β连环蛋白可能是一个有用的预后标志物。
