Distinct expression of CDX2 and GATA4/5, development-related genes, in human gastric cancer cell lines

CDX2 is a tumor-suppressor homeobox gene involved in colon carcinogenesis, but its role in gastric cancer is unknown. Although GATA4, -5 and, -6 trans cription factors have distinct functions in the regulation of gastrointesti nal epithelial cell differentiation, there have been no reports regarding G ATA4/5/6 alterations in gastrointestinal carcinomas. By using a semiquantit ative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay, we studied the expression of gut development-related genes CDX2/1 and GATA4/5/6 in 11 hum an gastric cancer ceil lines. The expression of CDX2 appeared to progressiv ely decrease with the transition from well differentiated to poorly differe ntiated cancer cell lines. CDX1 was below detectable levels in all cell lin es. The expression of GATA4 and GATA5 was undetectable in four and six cell lines, respectively, whereas the majority of the cell lines expressed GATA 6 abundantly. These results suggest that CDX2 and GATA4/5 may be associated with the carcinogenesis of the stomach. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.