Study on the Relationship between the Expression of Transforming Growth Factor β1, Cyclin A and Apoptosis in Gastric Carcinoma and Precancerous Lesions

Background/Aims: To investigate the relationship between the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) β1, cyclin A and apoptosis and their changes among normal gastric mucosa, non atrophic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, dysplasia and gastric carcinoma. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect the expression of TGF-β1, and cyclin A. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method was used to detect apoptosis. Results: In normal gastric mucosa the apoptotic index was 1.7%±1.6%. In non atrophic gastritis, atrophic gastritis and dysplasia, the apoptotic indices were 4.7%±5.0%, 5.2%±14.7% and 3.0%±3.5% respectively, significantly higher than that of gastric carcinoma (1.6%±2.5%, P 0.05). In normal gastric mucosa, non atrophic gastritis, and atrophic gastritis, the positivity rates of TGF-β1 were 10.0% (1/10), 25.0% (4/16) and 25.0% (11/44) respectively, significantly lower than that of dysplasia (17/28, 60.7%; P0.05) and gastric carcinoma (25/42, 59.5%; P0.05). In normal gastric mucosa, non atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastritis, the positivity rates of cyclin A were 0, 6.2% (1/16) and 20.5% (9/44) respectively, significantly lower than that of dysplasia (13/28, 46.4%; P0.05) and gastric carcinoma (36/42, 85.7%; P0.05), and there was also significant difference between dysplasia and gastric carcinoma (P0.05). Conclusions: In the evolvement of gastric carcinoma the apoptotic indices increase in non atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastritis and decrease in dysplasia and gastric carcinoma. The positivity rates of TGF-β1 and cyclin A were higher in dysplasia and gastric carcinoma than those in normal gastric mucosa, non atrophic gastritis and atrophic gastritis. The expression of TGF-β1 and cyclin A may be correlated with apoptosis and may play a role in gastric carcinogenesis..