ABSTRACT
Purpose To identify the significance of different expression localization of β-catenin and its correlation with clinical pathological parameters in gastric cancer (GC) . Methods The expression of β-catenin proteins in 120 gastric cancer and 50 normal gastric mucosa samples was detected by SP immunohistochemistry. Results The positive expression of β-catenin was localized to membrane with positive rate 100. 00％ in normal gastric mucosa. Lack of β-catenin membrane expression and ectopic expression in cytoplasm,nuclei,or cytoplasm/nuclei were found in GC tissue and the abnormal expression rate was as high as 81. 67％ (98/120) . The abnormal expression of β-catenin was significantly correlated with histological differentiation,lymphatic metastasis and TNM stage in GC (P < 0. 05) . The nuclear expression rate of β-catenin was 36. 67％ (44/120) ,and the positive nuclear expression was significantly correlated with TNM stage in GC (P < 0. 05) . The 5-year overall survival rate of β-catenin nuclear positive patients was significantly lower than that of nuclear negative ones (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion β-catenin plays a significant role in gastric cancer carcinogenesis,and its different expression localization is related to the progress of GC. β-catenin is expected to be a potential target for diagnosis and treatment of GC.