Abnormal Expression of E-Cadherin in Gastric Adenocarcinoma, and Its Correlation With Tumor Histopathology and Helicobacter Pylori Infection

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the leading cancers in the world especially in Iran. There are many genomic and molecular factors that cause gastric cancer to occur, and also there are many markers that associate with tumor invasiveness. E-cadherin is a tumor suppressor gene which produces E-cadherin transmembrane protein, a molecule which plays an important role in adhesion and differentiation of epithelial cells. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of abnormal E-cadherin expression in Iranian patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, and tried to find its correlation with H. pylori infection and tumor histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A historical cohort survey was performed on tissue samples obtained from 95 total or partial gastrectomy with gastric adenocarcinoma. The immunohistochemistry and Giemsa staining were used to assess E-cadherin expression, and H- pylori infection respectively. The association between abnormal E-cadherin expression and tumor histopathology characteristics include depth of tumor invasion, tumor differentiation, tumor phenotype, tumor type, tumor size, neurovascular invasion of tumor, and regional lymph node involvement and H- pylori infection and patient's age and sex, were evaluated in all patients. RESULTS: Abnormal E-cadherin expression was noted in 38% of patients, and 59% of patients were infected with H-pylori. A significant correlation was seen between abnormal E-cadherin expression, and tumor grade and regional lymph node involvement. We could not find any significant association between abnormal E-cadherin expression and H- pylori infection, patient's age and sex, tumor phenotype, tumor type, depth of tumor invasion, tumor size, and neurovascular invasion of tumor. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormal E-cadherin expression is a common phenomenon in gastric adenocarcinoma. The study showed a significant correlation between abnormal E-cadherin expression and tumor grade and regional lymph node involvement; so, abnormal E-cadherin expression may be used as a predictive factor for tumor invasiveness in gastric adenocarcinoma.