DECREASED MAP KINASE-ACTIVITY IN HUMAN GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA

We investigated the cellular signaling events involved in gastric canc er by examining the role of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in normal and transformed human gastric tissue. A significant loss in bo th MAPK abundance and activity was found in the membrane fractions of the adenocarcinomas when compared to the histologically normal gastric tissue, while no significant alteration in MAPK was seen in the cytos olic fractions from these two tissue types. These findings suggest tha t reduction in MAPK abundance and activity are associated with loss of normal growth control in human gastric adenocarcinoma. (C) 1995 Acade mic Press, Inc.