Clinicopathological Study Of C-erbB-2, Metastasis-associated Protein 1 (MTA1) And E-cadherin Expression In Gastric Cardia Cancer

Objective To detect the expressions of c-erbB-2, MTA1 and E-cadherin protein, and investigate their relationship in gastric cardia cancer.Methods SP immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expressions of c-erbB-2, MTA1 and E-cadherin protein among the 60 gastric cardia cancer samples. Results The positive rates of c-erbB-2, MTA1 and E-cadherin protein were 51.7%, 55.0% and 61.7% respectively. C-erbB-2 over-expression was significantly correlated with the depth of invasion, lymphatic metastasis and was inversely correlated with the differentiation of gastric cardia cancer(P<0.05). MTA1 over-expression indicated there was no relationship in the depth of invasion of gastric cardia cancer, and was significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis, inversely correlated with the differentiation(P<0.05). E-cadherin low-expression was inversely correlated with the depth of invasion, lymphatic metastasis, and indicated there was no relationship in the the differentiation of gastric cardia cancer(P<0.05). The incidence of MTA1 positive expression was 24.1% in 29 cases which exhibit c-erbB-2 negative staining, whereas the incidence of MTA1 positive expression was 83.9% in 31 cases which exhibit c-erbB-2 positive staining, there was an positive correlation between MTA1 and c-erbB-2 expression, by using the Spearman Correlation test to analyse the data(rs= 0.276, P<0.05). The incidence of E-cadherin positive expression was 81.5% in 27 cases exhibiting MTA1 negative staining, whereas the incidence of E-cadherin positive expression was 45.5% in 33 cases exhibiting MTA1 positive staining, there was an inverse correlation between E-cadherin and MTA1 expression, by using the Spearman Correlation test to analyse the data(rs= -0.293, P<0.05).Conclusion (1) Over-expression of c-erbB-2, MTA1 and low-expression of E-cadherin might play an important role in invasion and metastasis of human gastric cardia cancer. (2) A positive correlation was found between MTA1 and c-erbB-2 expression. MTA1 and c-erbB-2 co-expression was the biological character of high aggressiveness. (3) A inverse correlation was found between E-cadherin and MTA1expression. Over-expression of MTA1 and low-expression of E-cadherin may co-exist in the invasion and lymphatic metastasis of gastric cardia cancer, was the biological character of high aggressiveness.