Mucins,a family of heavily glycosylated proteins,present mainly in epithelial cells.They function as essential barriers for epithelium and play important roles in cellular physiological processes.Aberrant expression and glycosylation of mucins in gastric epithelium occur at pathological conditions,such as Helicobacter pylori infection,chronic atrophic gastritis,intestinal metastasis,dysplasia,and gastric cancer.This review addresses the major roles played by mucins and associated O-glycan structures in normal gastric epithelium.Further,we expound the alterations of expression patterns and glycan signatures of mucins at those pathological conditions.
Gastric Mucosa/pathology* ; Glycosylation ; Helicobacter Infections/pathology* ; Helicobacter pylori/metabolism* ; Humans ; Mucins/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of annexin I in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and carcinomas of other histological types in order to analyze the correlation between the expression of annexin I and carcinogenesis.

METHODSFirst, a set of tissue microarray was established, which consisted of SCC from the esophagus (208 cases), lung, larynx, cervix, and external genital organs; adenocarcinomas from the lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, thyroid and kidney with 30 cases in each group, meanwhile, the corresponding normal tissue was also obtained for control. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of annexin I in different types of carcinomas and the corresponding normal controls from different organs. The correlation between the expression of annexin I and the clinicopathological feature was analyzed and compared, which included age, gender, differentiation grade and lymph node metastasis.

RESULTSIt was found that the expression of annexin I was decreased in esophageal SCC, when compared with normal esophageal squamous epithelia (P < 0.001), the similarity was also found in SCC of the lung, larynx and cervix. However, though negative in normal epidermis, annexin I expression was detected in some cases with SCC from external genital organs. Annexin I was found to be overexpressed in adenocarcinomas of the lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, thyroid and kidney, particularly very strong expression of annexin I was seen in lung adenocarcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma and ovarian serous adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, it was found to be positive in all thyroid papillary carcinomas, but negative in all normal thyroid glands. However, annexin I expression was found to be negative in all hepatocellular carcinoma and normal hepatocytes; and it was only detected in myoepithelium of normal breast tissue, but not in ductal luminal cells, and rarely in infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma. In SCC, annexin I expression was stronger in well differentiated ones than that in the poorly differentiated ones. However, contrasting with SCC, in the adenocarcinomas from different organs, annexin I expression was much stronger in poorly differentiated ones than that in the well differentiate ones, especially in the adenocarcinomas from stomach, colon and rectum, pancreas, ovarian and kidney.

CONCLUSIONAnnexin I expression is quite different among different types of carcinomas, and is correlated with histopathological type and differentiation grade. Further study is needed to investigate its role in the carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Annexin A1 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophagus ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

Animals ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric cancers (AFPGC).

METHODSFifty-one serum AFP-positive patients with positive immunohistochemical staining of AFP in the primary lesions (study group) and sixty-five gastric cancer cases with normal AFP level (control group) treated in our department from January 2005 to December 2007 were included in this study. Their clinicopathologic features and follow-up data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the study group had a higher incidence of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (P=0.021) and liver metastasis (P=0.001) than that in the control group.The TNM stages in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P=0.001). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year survival rates of the study group were 62.7%, 27.5% and 4.7%, respectively, and the median survival was 16 months, significantly lower than the 84.6%, 55.4%, 16.5%, and 30 months of the control group (P<0.001 for all). The serum AFP levels in the study group ranged from 58.63 µg/L to 12 100.00 µg/L, and could be classified into two groups:27 cases <500 µg/L, and 24 cases ≥500 µg/L. There was no significant difference of the immunohistochemical staining results between the two subgroups (P=0.912).

CONCLUSIONSAFPGC is a special type of gastric cancer with high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Monitoring of serum AFP level can earlier detect the progression of disease and give corresponding treatment.

Adenocarcinoma ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

Gastric carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) is an extremely rare tumor. So far, only six cases have been reported in the literature. Here we report an additional case of this tumor in a Chinese 78-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis. Physical examination and gastroscopy revealed a tumor in the gastric antrum. The biopsy and pathological findings indicated a gastric adenocarcinoma with OGCs, which were present in both the tumor and the metastatic lymph nodes. Further immunohistochemical staining indicated that OGCs were reactive with CD68, CD45, and vimentin protein, but not with pancytokeratin, carcinoembryonic antigen, or epithelial membrane antigen, suggesting the monocytic/histiocytic derivation of these OGCs. In situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus showed no nuclear positivity in either adenocarcinoma or OGCs. Postoperative follow-up showed that the patient had survived for at least 6 months without recurrence. Further investigation is warranted to clearly define the prognostic significance of OGCs in gastric carcinoma.
Aged ; Giant Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Osteoclasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology

Many studies have reported that the expression of silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is associated with the clinical features and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer, but the exact function remains controversial. We conducted this study to illustrate the clinical and prognostic value of Sirt1 in gastric cancer. The related publications before December 2015 were searched in the databases including Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The studies were included and excluded according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. The 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) and clinical features such as age, T stage, N stage and differentiation were analyzed by software RevMan 5.3. A total of 1650 patients in 7 studies were included according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria. The high expression of Sirt1 was found in 58.4% cases by immunohistochemistry. High expression of Sirt1 was closely linked with the 3-year OS (OR=0.25, 95% CI: 0.16-0.39, P<0.00001, fixed), patient's age (≥60 years old vs. <60 years old; OR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.06-1.93, P=0.02, fixed), T stage (T3+T4 vs. T1+T2; OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.94, P=0.01, fixed), N stage (N1+N2+N3 vs. N0; OR=3.47, 95% CI: 2.39-5.05, P<0.00001, fixed) and tumor differentiation (G1+G2 vs. G3; OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.35-0.69, P<0.0001, fixed). Nevertheless, it seemed that high expression of Sirt1 was not associated with 5-year OS (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.15-1.28, P=0.13, random). It was suggested that the high expression of Sirt1 implies a poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients in a relatively short period (3 years), but not in a long time (≥5 years). The expression of Sirt1 is also linked with patients' age, T stage, N stage and tumor differentiation.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sirtuin 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Analysis

We have occasionally experienced eosinophilic abscess of the liver in patients with gastric carcinoma, suggesting that some eosinophil mobilizing (chemotactic and proliferative) factors might be produced by carcinoma cells. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not gastric carcinoma expresses the well-known eosinophil chemotactic factors (ECFs) and whether or not the expression is related to the histologic subtypes. Seventeen consecutive surgically removed tumor-bearing stomachs were collected: 7 signet ring cell type, 7 poorly differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and 3 moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections were re-evaluated for eosinophil and mast cell infiltration. The expression of IL-2, IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were examined by immunocytochemical stain. There was no available frozen tissue for IL-2 and IL-5 in one case. Gastric carcinoma expressed IL-2 in all 16 cases, IL-5 in 12 of 16 cases and GM-CSF in 10 of 17 cases. Of particular interest, 7 of 10 GM-CSF-expressing carcinomas were signet ring cell type. Even in the remaining 3 cases, most GM-CSF-positive cells were signet ring cells scattered within tubular adenocarcinoma. No correlation of ECF expression between either eosinophil/mast cell infiltration or peripheral blood eosinophilia was identified. In conclusion, most gastric carcinomas express the well-known ECFs and the expression of GM-CSF is specific for signet ring carcinoma cells.
Cell Movement/physiology ; Chemotactic Factors, Eosinophil/metabolism* ; Eosinophils/physiology ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mast Cells/physiology ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigate and analyze the expression of fascin and CK14 in multiple histological types of cancer and to explore the potential value of the two proteins as markers in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various cancer types.

METHODSTissue microarray containing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), lung SCC, larynx SCC, uterine cervical SCC, SCC of external genital organs, lung adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, heptocellular carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, breast infiltrating ductal carcinoma, thyroid papillary carcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma, ovarian serous adenocarcinoma and renal clear cell carcinoma, 30 cases each, as well as corresponding normal controls was constructed. The expression of fascin and CK14 among different types of carcinoma and corresponding normal controls was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSIn normal esophagus, bronchus, larynx, uterine cervix and skin, fascin was mainly expressed in the basal cells or reserve cells, but the expression was diffuse in esophageal SCC, lung SCC, larynx SCC, uterine cervical SCC and SCC of external genital organs, with a positive rate of 90.0%, 90.0%, 96.7%, 78.6% and 89.7%, respectively. In the normal tissue of other organs, except breast and uterine endometrium, fascin was negative. In lung adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, breast infiltrating dutal adenocarcinoma, thyroid papillary carcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma, ovarian serous adenocarcinoma and renal clear cell carcinoma, the positive rates were 38.0%, 23.3%, 14.3%, 10.3%, 73.3%, 13.3%, 6.7%, 60.0%, 66.7% and 10.0%, respectively. The difference between fascin expression in SCC and in other histological types was statistically significant (P < 0.001). CK14 was mainly expressed in the basal cells, reserve cells or myoepithelia of normal tissues. The positive rates of CK14 were 76.7%, 36.7%, 83.3%, 60.7% and 96.3% in esophageal SCC, lung SCC, larynx SCC, uterine cervical SCC and SCC of external genital organs, respectively. It was weak and focal in lung adenocarcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, breast infiltrating dutal adenocarcinoma, thyroid papillary carcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma, ovarian serous adenocarcinoma, and renal clear cell carcinoma, with a positive rate of 13.3%, 13.3%, 20.7%, 41.4%, 46.7%, 6.7%, 40.0%, 13.3%, 20.0% and 6.7%, respectively. The difference between CK14 expression in SCC and in other histological types was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The difference between co-expression of fascin/CK14 in SCC and in other histological types was also statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONFascin and CK14 are highly expressed in SCC, compared with other histological types of carcinoma. Combination of fascin and CK14 should be a valuable marker in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-14 ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Actins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibroma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Pyloric Antrum ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism