Journal of Gastric Cancer

The Korean Gastric Cancer Association (대한위암학회)
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Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2, Cathepsin D and E-cadherin in Human Gastric Adenocarcinomas

위선암에서 Matrix Metalloproteinase-2, Cathepsin D 및 E-cadherin의 발현

  • Lee Sang Kuon (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Park Seung Cheol (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Kim Won Woo (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Kim Wook (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Lee Kyo Young (Departments of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Jeon Hae Myung (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Kim Eung Kook (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea) ;
  • Koh Yong Bok (Departments of Surgery College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea)
  • 이상권 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실) ;
  • 박승철 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실) ;
  • 김원우 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실) ;
  • 김욱 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실) ;
  • 이교영 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 임상병리학교실) ;
  • 전해명 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실) ;
  • 김응국 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실) ;
  • 고용복 (가톨릭대학교 의과대학 외과학교실)
  • Published : 2002.09.01
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Abstract

Purpose: The prognosis of gastric cancer depends on the depth of invasion, lymph-node metastasis, invasion to adjacent tissues, and distant metastasis. Recently, it is known that tumor-associated proteases and adhesion molecules have been shown to play a relevant role in the process of progression and metastasis. The purpose of our study was to demonstrate the value of MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase), cathepsin D and E-cadherin as prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: In this study, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 69 patients with gastric cancer were immunohistochemically studied using antibodies to MMP-2, cathepsin D, and E-cadherin, and their expressions were analyzed according to the pathologic stage, lymph-node metastasis, histological differentiation, and patient survival. The medical records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Increased expression of MMP-2 significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stage (P=0.026). Patients with lymph-node metastasis also had increased expression of MMP-2. Those patients with increased expression of MMP-2 showed a poorer survival; nevertheless, it was not statistically significant. Increased expression of cathepsin D significantly correlated with advanced pathologic stage (p=0.029). However, no correlation was observed between advanced pathologic stage and either lymph-node status or histological differentiation. Patients with increased expression of cathepsin D had a poorer survival, but that result was not statistically significant. No association was found between reduced expression of E-cadherin and pathologic stage, lymph-node status, or histological differentiation. Also, no correlation was found between the expression of E-cadherin and survival. In addition, when a combination of MMP-2 and cathepsin D expressions was analyzed, if both were negative, the survival seems to be longer, but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In patients with gastric cancer, expressions of MMP-2 and cathepsin D correlated with tumor stage; therefore, they may be considered as prognostic factors.

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