The Amplification And Overexpression Of C-met Oncogene In Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Gastric Carcinoma

Objective To investigate the amplification and overexpression of c-met in EBV associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC), EBV negative gastric carcinoma (EBVnGC) and the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues, so to clarify whether there is a relationship between the amplification or overexpression of c-met and the infection of EBV in the process of gastric carcinogenesis.Methods Semi-quantitative PCR was used to detect the amplification of c-met gene in EBVaGC,EBVnGC and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues; Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression and overexpression of c-met protein in EBVaGC, EBVnGC and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues.Results (1) The amplification of c-met was detected in EBVaGC,EBVnGC and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues, the positive rate was 100%. (2) There was significant statistic difference on the amplification of c-met oncogene between 58 cases of gastric carcinoma and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues (z=9. 455, P<0. 01); There was no significant statistic difference between EBVaGC and EBVnGC (t = 0. 1359, P>0. 05). (3) The positive rate of c-met protein in gastric carcinoma tissues was 67. 24%(39/58), which was negative in the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues. There was significant difference between the two groups (x2=58. 75,P<0. 001). 0 The positive rate of c-met protein in EBVaGC was 76. 92% (10/13), which was 64. 44%(29/45)in EBVnGC. There was no statistic difference between the two groups (X2=0. 2590, P>0. 05). (5) The overexpression of c-met protein was detected in 8 of 13 (61. 45%) EBVaGC specimens and 19 of 45 (42. 22%) EBVnGC specimens. There was significant difference between the two groups (x2 = 16. 46, P<0. 001). (6) The amplification and overexpression of c-met gene in EBVaGC and EBVnGC has no relationship with the tumor's size, location, lymph node metastasis, differentiation degree and deeper invasion.Conclusion (1) c-met oncogene was detected both in the gastric carcinoma tissue and the corresponding para-carcinoma tissue, but there was significant difference between the two groups on the amplification of c-met oncogene. The expression of c-met protein in EBVaGC was much higher than in the corresponding para-carcinoma tissues, which was negative. It suggested that the amplification and expression of c-met oncogene has relationship with the process of gastric carcingenesis. (2) There was no significant difference on the amplification and expression of c-met oncogene between EBVaGC and EBVnGC, but the overexpression rate of the c-met protein in EBVaGC group was much higher than that in EBVnGC group. It showed that the overexpression of c-met protein had correlation with EBV infection. (3) The amplification and overexpression of c-met gene in EBVaGC and EBVnGC has no relationship with the tumor's size, location, lymph node metastasis, differentiation degree and deeper invasion.