BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEc-Cbl and Cbl-b are two ubiquitous members of the Casitas B-lineage lymphoma (Cbl) family, which play important roles in the downregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by acting as E3 ubiquitin ligases and multiadaptor proteins. This study investigated the expression of c-Cbl, Cbl-b, and EGFR in gastric carcinoma and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe expressions of c-Cbl, Cbl-b, and EGFR were detected by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays consisting of 124 specimens of gastric carcinoma and 16 specimens of normal gastric mucosa. The relationship between the expressions of c-Cbl, Cbl-b, and EGFR and clinicopathologic factors of gastric carcinoma were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe positive rates of c-Cbl, Cbl-b, and EGFR were higher in the gastric carcinoma group than in the normal group (71.0% vs. 18.0%, P<0.01; 82.3% vs. 25.0%, P<0.01; 56.5% vs. 12.5%, P<0.01, respectively). The expression of c-Cbl was positively correlated with depth of invasion (r=0.219, P=0.015), and TNM staging (r=0.266, P=0.003). The expression of Cbl-b was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (r=0.190, P<0.034) and TNM staging (r=0.298, P<0.001). The expression of EGFR was positively correlated with depth of invasion (r=0.286, P<0.001) and TNM staging (r=0.362, P=0.000). The expression of both c-Cbl and Cbl-b was positively correlated with EGFR (r=0.241, P=0.007; r=0.183, P=0.042, respectively). Synchronous strong-positive expressions of c-Cbl, Cbl-b, and EGFR were observed in 27 specimens of gastric carcinoma, most of which were at advanced stage.

CONCLUSIONSOverexpressions of c-Cbl, Cbl-b, and EGFR are closely related to the invasion and progression of gastric carcinoma. c-Cbl and Cbl-b may serve as novel molecular markers for gastric carcinoma.