Expression and clinical significance of c-kit oncogene in gastrointestinal stromal tumors / 中华外科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the c-kit protein in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Paraffin embedded materials from 53 benign GISTs, 13 potentially malignant and 55 malignant cases were analysed for c-kit expression by immunohistochemical method, while using leiomyomas and schwannomas as controls. Positive signals were shown in cytoplasma and cell membrane.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 122 GISTs, 118 (97%) were positive for c-kit. Localization of positive signals was accurate. The rate of c-kit protein in benign, potentially malignant and malignant cases was 98% (53/54), 93% (12/13), 96% (53/55) respectively. Compared with benign GIST, the positivity of c-kit in metastasis or recurrent cases decreased, but c-kit protein expression rate was not significantly different between the three patterns of GIST (chi(2) = 1.167, P > 0.05). Leiomyomas and schwannomas were typically c-kit negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As a sensitive and specific marker of GIST, c-kit seems to be a useful antibody in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GIST, but it may not be used as a prognostic index.</p>