OBJECTIVETo study the expression and significance of interleukin-8 (IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and trefoil family factor 1 (TFF1) in the remnant stomach mucosa.

METHODSPatients after gastrectomy were examined by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Biopsy specimens were obtained from stoma and the greater curvature of the upper corpus to be assessed for Hp (by H.E. and Giemsa staining) and conduct real-time semi-quantitative PCR. mRNA was extracted from the biopsy specimens to determine the IL-8, COX-2 and TFF1 gene mRNA levels by real-time PCR method.

RESULTSIn the stoma, COX-2 level in Hp-positive patients was significantly higher than that in Hp-negative patients, but the difference of IL-8 levels between them was not significant. In the corpus, IL-8 and COX-2 levels in Hp-positive patients were significantly higher than those in Hp-negative patients. In Hp-negative patients, IL-8 and COX-2 levels in the stoma were significantly higher in B II anastomosis than in B I anastomosis cases; COX-2 level in the stoma was significantly higher in B II anastomosis than in B I anastomosis cases, but the difference of IL-8 levels between them was not significant. TFF1 level in the remnant stomach mucosa showed no significant difference between Hp-positive and Hp-negative patients.

CONCLUSIONHp infection and bile reflux are important risk factors for the secondary stomach carcinogenesis. Expression of IL-8 and COX-2 in the remnant stomach mucosa is related to the risk of secondary stomach carcinogenesis. The relationship between the TFF1 expression and secondary stomach carcinogenesis in the remnant stomach mucosa is still unclear and should further be studied.