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Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2010;3(8):782-791

Original Article
Detection of β-catenin, gastrokine-2 and embryonic stem cell expressed ras in gastric
cancers

Fan Zhang, Jian Min Tang1, Li Wang, Jing Ying Shen1, Lin Zheng, Ping Ping Wu, Mei Zhang, Zhao Wen Yan

Department of Pathology, Medical College, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China; 1Department of Pathology, Putuo Hospital,
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Received October 11, 2010; accepted October , 2010; available online October, 2010

Abstract: ERas activation and GKN2 reduction in gastric cancer has raised some notices in recent years, while nuclear beta-catenin positivity
is considered as a tumoral marker. In this study, we compared immunohistochemistry of beta-catenin, GKN2 and ERas on tumoral and non-
tumoral mucosae of 50 gastric carcinomas and 13 gastric samples of cancer-free patients. Nuclear positivity of beta-catenin was strong in 31
non-tumoral mucosae (62%) and 29 tumoral mucosae (58%). It was absent in samples of cancer-free patients. There was a correlation
between non-tumoral and tumoral zones for nuclear beta-catenin positivity (P=0.013). ERas was positive in 35 non-tumoral tissues (70%) and
31 tumoral tissues (62%) but negatvie in samples of cancer-free patients. It was weak and spotty in non-tumoral mucosae but strong and
diffuse in tumors. Positivity of ERas was age-related (P=0.028). However it had background staining effect. GKN2 was expressed in 33 non-
tumoral mucosae (66%) and 35 tumoral mucosae (70%). Though GKN2 staining was moderate to strong in non-tumoral tissues and was
comparatively weaker in tumors, their difference was minimal and difficult to discern. Conclusions: Beta-catenin nuclear location could be
considered as a paraneoplastic pattern which is considerably tumor-related. ERas may be a potential biomarker for gastric cancer, but
advanced studies are wanted. GKN2 reduction is indiscernible by immunostaining. (IJCEP1010003).

Keywords: Stomach neoplasm, gastric mucosa, beta Catenin, gastrokine 2, ERas

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Address all correspondence to:
Li Wang, MD
Department of Pathology, Medical College
Shanghai Jiaotong University
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Shanghai 200025, China.
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E-mail:
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