Immunohistochemical study of the expression of E cadherin in human gastric cancer

Objective:To evaluate the correlation between the expression of E cadherin(E CD) and the biological behaviors of gastric cancer.Methods:The expression of E CD was detected immunohistochemically in 80 resected gastric carcinoma specimens.Results:The E CD expression was well preserved in normal gastric mucosa,whereas 86 3%(69/80) of gastric carcinoma specimens showed a reduction or absence of E CD expression.Further,the significant correlation was observed between low E CD expression and cellular differentiation( P 0 01) and infiltrative type of gastrie cancer( P 0 01).No significant correlation was found between E CD expression and the depth of invasion,venous and lymphatic vessel invasion,( P 0 05).Conclusions:The expression of E CD could determine the growth pattern and degree of cell differentiation of gastrie cancer.There might be no correlation between E CD expression and the invasion and metastases of gastrie cancer.