Molecular alterations in early gastric carcinomas - No apparent correlation with Helicobacter pylori status

Data on the differences in molecular profile between H pylori-positive and H pylori-negative early gastric carcinomas, if any, are almost nonexistent. We therefore investigated whether molecular differences can be observed be tween H pylori-positive and H pylori-negative early gastric carcinomas. For ty-five early gastric carcinomas were analyzed for alterations in certain o ncogenes (ras, MDM2, c-erbB-2, cyclin D1), the p53 tumor suppressor gene, a nd the e-cadherin gene. Of these 28 carcinomas were H pylori-positive, and 17 were H pylori-negative. No significant differences were found in the gro ups irrespective of Lauren type; ras (0% vs 0%), MDM2 (0% vs 0%), c-erbB-2 (0% vs 0%), cyclin D1 (18% vs 29%), p53 (68% vs 47%), and e-cadherin (46% v s 41%). Helicobacter pylori-positive and H pylori-negative early gastric ca rcinomas do not differ in molecular profile. Although they may prove differ ent when tested for other abnormalities, our findings suggest that the acqu isition of molecular alterations occurs via an H pylori independent pathway .