Correlation Of HMSH2,hMLH1 Gene Expressions To Gastric Carcinogenesis

Background & Objective: Gastric carcinogenesis is a complex process involving mutations of many genes, and the basis of the mutations is often base mispairing occurring in DNA replication and RNA transcription. So, only the gastric mucosal cells with proficient mismatch repair function can prevent the accumulation of mutations and maintain the genomic stability. The deficiency of mismatch repair function correlates to malignant transformation of different kinds of cells associated with the carcinogenesis of many cancers, particularly hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer(HNPCC). HNPCC is considered being caused by the functional deficiency of mismatch repair system resulting from the inherited mutations in one of DNA mismatch repair genes. Gastric carcinoma has similar histological and clinical features with colorectal cancer and also shows abnormal expressions of mismatch repair proteins. Then, are there mutations affecting mismatch repair gene expressions in gastric carcinoma cells? About this, few reports have been reported in China. In order to explore this question, in this study, we detect the protein and mRNA expressions and mutations of mismatch repair gene hMSH2 and hMLH1 in gastric carcinomas and their adjacent mucosa so as to analyze the roles of mutations and abnormal protein expressions of the two genes in gastric carcinogenesis.Methods: Gastric carcinomas with clear pathological diagnosis and their adjacent mucosa for corresponding from 192 patients were obtained by gastroscope biopsy. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the...