Patterns of beta-catenin expression in gastric carcinoma: Clinicopathological relevance and mutation analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2003

Authors

Nabais, S (Author) Other; Machado JC (Author) FMUP; Lopes, C (Author) Other; Seruca, R (Author) FMUP; Carneiro F (Author) FMUP; Sobrinho Simoes, M (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Surgical Pathology

Vol. 11

Pages: 1-9

ISSN: 1066-8969

Publisher: SAGE

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 23 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-JYC

DOI: 10.1177/106689690301100102

Abstract (EN): Studies on the expression of beta-catenin (beta-ct) in gastric carcinoma have provided conflicting results, and the role played by beta-ct mutations in gastric carcinogenesis remains unclear. In an attempt to clarify the aforementioned issues we undertook the retrospective study of 157 gastric carcinomas by using immunohistochemistry and molecular genetics. Reduced/absent membranous beta-ct expression was significantly associated with isolated-cell/diffuse histotype both in "pure" diffuse gastric carcinomas and in the isolated-cell/ diffuse component of mixed carcinomas. Cytoplasmic and/or nuclear beta-ct expression was particularly prevalent in mixed carcinomas and was significantly associated with lymphatic vessel invasion and lymph node metastases. beta-ct mutations were not detected in any case. We conclude that the pattern of beta-ct expression is closely related to gastric carcinoma histotype. The activation of Wnt/beta-ct pathway is associated with mixed gastric carcinoma and with features of clinical aggressiveness; the mechanism(s) underlying this pathway in gastric carcinoma are not due to beta-ct mutations and remain to be elucidated.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9