BACKGROUND: The molecular pathogenesis of gastric
carcinoma is not yet well characterized. The purpose of this study is to assess the
role of
beta-catenin in gastric
carcinogenesis .
METHODS: We analyzed
beta-catenin expression using
immunohistochemistry on 68 gastric
adenomas and 34 gastric
adenocarcinomas , and compared the result with pathological and molecular types of
tumors and
E-cadherin expression.
RESULTS: Nuclear expression of
beta-catenin was noted more frequently in gastric
adenomas than in
carcinomas (40% vs. 21%, 0.05< or = P<1). There was no significant relationship between nuclear
beta-catenin expression and histologic degree of
adenoma , histologic type of
carcinoma or
microsatellite instability .
E-cadherin expression showed significantly more frequent decrease in the
membrane stainability of
carcinomas compared to
adenomas (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: The frequent nuclear
beta-catenin expression in gastric
adenomas suggests that the
beta-catenin alteration might
play an early
role in gastric
carcinogenesis .