Expressions of CDX-2 and LI-cadherin in Gastric Benign Lesions and Tumor and Its Significance

Objective To investigate the potential role of caudal type homeobox transcription factor-2(CDX-2) and liver-intestine cadherin(LI-cadherin) in the development and progression of gastric tumor by detecting their expressions in gastric cancer and benign lesions.Methods The expressions of CDX-2 and LI-cadherin protein were detected by immunohistochemistry in normal gastric mucosa(n=28),chronic superficial gastritis(n=30),chronic atrophic gastritis(n=42),intestinal metaplasia(n=58),gastric adenocarcinoma(n=46),vicinity cancerous tissue(n=30),and gastric stromal tumor(n=10).Then,the relationship between expression of CDX-2 or LI-cadherin protein and clinicopathologic features was analyzed.Results ①The expressions of CDX-2 and LI-cadherin were all negative in normal gastric mucosa,chronic superficial gastritis,vicinity cancerous tissue,and gastric stromal tumor.The positive rates of CDX-2 protein expression in intestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma were 91.4%(53/58) and 80.4%(37/46),respectively,and the positive rates of LI-cadherin protein expression were 82.8%(48/58) in intestinal metaplasia and 65.2%(30/46) in gastric adenocarcinoma.The positive rates of CDX-2 and LI-cadherin protein expression in intestinal type gastric adenocarcinoma(90.6%(29/32) and 78.1%(25/32)) were higher than those in diffuse type gastric adenocarcinoma(57.1%(8/14) and 35.7%(5/14)),P0.05.② CDX-2 protein expression was associated with degree of differentiation(P=0.007),and LI-cadherin protein expression was associated with lymph node metastasis(P=0.007) and cancer staging(P=0.013).③ In the mucosa of intestinal metaplasia,the co-expression positive rate of CDX-2 protein expression in nucleus with LI-cadherin protein in cytoplasm or membrane was 83.0%(44/53),while the co-expression positive rate was 67.6%(25/37) in gastric adenocarcinoma.Although strong tendency between CDX-2 and LI-cadherin protein expression was showed,it was not confirmed by the correlation analysis(r=238,P=0.115).Conclusions The abnormal expressions of CDX-2 and LI-cadherin may be involved in the development and progress of intestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma,respectively,and further studies are needed to determine if they have synergistic effect.