Abnormal expression of E-cadherin in early gastric carcinoma: its relationship with macroscopic growth patterns and catenin alpha and beta.

Abnormal expression of E-cadherin plays an important role in the differentiation and progression of gastric carcinoma. There are a few identifiable clinical, histopathologic, and molecular changes that are related with the macroscopic growth patterns of gastric carcinoma. The aim of this study is to elucidate the relation between the macroscopic growth patterns of gastric carcinoma and the abnormal expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenins. A total of 97 cases of early gastric carcinoma were examined by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenins. Macroscopically, 52 cases were elevated types and 45 cases were depressed types. Early gastric carcinomas with depressed growth showed diffuse histologic type, younger patients' age and smaller size more frequently than tumors with elevated growth. Abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenins were 35.1, 36.1, and 46.4%, respectively. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenins was significantly associated with depressed tumor growth and diffuse histologic type. By multiple logistic regression analysis. E-cadherin, age, Lauren classification, World Health Organization grade and size were identified as risk factors of macroscopic growth pattern of early gastric carcinomas. Positive associations between E-cadherin and beta-catenin and between alpha- and beta-catenins were found by log linear model analysis. We suggest that E-cadherin plays an important role in the macroscopic growth as well as microscopic differentiation of early gastric carcinomas.