EXPRESSION OF TENASCIN IN GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

Tenascin expression was determined by an immunohistochemical technique in 120 surgical specimens of gastric carcinoma to investigate its rel ationship with clinicopathological factors. Tenascin expression was mo re prominent in the neoplastic area than in the adjacent nonneoplastic mucosa. Tenascin was frequently observed in gastric mucosa with diffu se chronic gastritis, glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. In the neoplastic area, tenascin expression was positive in 72 cases (60 per cent). Tumours with a high frequency of tenascin expression includ ed: Borrmann type II (19 of 20), well or moderately differentiated tum ours (52 of 63), tumours with expansive growth and with an intermediat e growth pattern (40 of 42), and those with a medullary or intermediat e-type stroma (55 of 73). There was no significant relationship betwee n tenascin expression and age, sex, depth of invasion, lymph node meta stasis, invasion to lymphatic vessel, venous invasion and the 4-year s urvival rate.