Background. E‐cadherin plays a crucial role in cell‐cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. Recent studies have shown a correlation between decreased E‐cadherin expression and cancer cell detachment.
Methods. The expression of E‐cadherin was immunohistochemically analyzed using antihuman E‐cadherin antibody in 121 cases of human gastric carcinoma.
Results. In noncancerous areas, the epithelial cells, including those with intestinal metaplasia, were stained positively in the plasma membrane. In contrast, E‐cadherin expression of the cancer cells varied from case to case in primary and secondary sites. Tumors with a decrease in E‐cadherin occurred significantly more frequently in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05) and scirrhous type (P < 0.01). The rate of E‐cadherin‐negative tumors was higher in patients with peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01) or in those with distant lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), though the tumors with liver metastasis had relatively positive E‐cadherin expression. Patterns of initial recurrence had similar results. Reduction or loss of E‐cadherin expression correlated with shorter survival in patients after curative operation regardless of stage of disease.
Conclusions. The decreased E‐cadherin expression correlates with dedifferentiation, infiltrative tumor growth, distant metastasis, and poor survival for patients with gastric carcinoma. Thus, immunohistochemical study of E‐cadherin may have clinicopathologic value for patients with gastric carcinoma. Cancer 1995; 76:2193–201.
Although a pCR was a relatively rare event, a high pCR rate would be helpful to select the regimen and courses of NAC, especially when the pathological response rates are similar.
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