ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Gastrin is one of the most important gut hormones. However, the role of the gastrin-gastrin receptor (GR) system in the growth of gastric tumors is still unclear. METHODS: We examined serum gastrin levels in 957 patients with early gastric carcinoma. Next, we raised antibody against the GR and examined GR expression in 5 gastric carcinoma cell lines and 48 human gastric tumor tissues. In 28 cases, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was performed and morphological tumor changes were examined. RESULTS: Serum gastrin levels were significantly higher in patients with elevated tumors than in patients with depressed tumors (p = 0.02). All gastric carcinoma cell lines expressed GR. Thirty-one of 48 (65%) gastric tumors expressed GR, and its expression was prominent in elevated-type tumor with an intestinal histologic feature. Of 28 patients who underwent eradication therapy, 9 showed gastric tumors that became flat or depressed. In these 9 cases, GR expression was detected in all tumors, and the decrease in gastrin levels was more prominent than in those without morphological change (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The gastrin-GR system plays an important role in the elevated morphology of gastric tumors.
