Separate functions of alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 integrins in the metastatic process of human gastric carcinoma.

The expression of alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 integrins was studied immunohistochemically in 110 resected human gastric carcinomas. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples were serially sectioned and stained with monoclonal antibodies specifically against the alpha2 and alpha3 subunits of beta1 integrins. Approximately 27% of the tumors expressed alpha2beta1 integrin, and 20% expressed alpha3beta1 integrin. The expression of alpha2beta1 integrin was associated with lymph node and liver metastases (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively), and the expression of alpha3beta1 integrin was associated with liver and peritoneal metastases (P < 0.005 and P < 0.0005, respectively). A multivariate analysis by the logistic regression model revealed that the expression of alpha2beta1 and/or alpha3beta1 integrins was an independent factor related to liver metastasis, and that the expression of alpha3beta1 integrin was as strong an influence on the formation of peritoneal metastases as the depth of invasion. The expression of alpha3beta1 integrin also correlated with increased invasiveness of the tumor; however, there was no correlation between alpha2beta1 integrin expression and the invasiveness. These results suggest that alpha2beta1 and alpha3beta1 integrins have separate influences on the metastatic properties of cancer cells.