Background: A stepwise progression through premalignant stages has been ide
ntified for the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma. As gastrin has been i
dentified as a growth factor for the intestinal type of gastric adenocarcin
oma, the aim of this study was to investigate whether gastrin is expressed
in premalignant gastric conditions.
Methods: Ninety archival samples of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplas
ia, mild gastric epithelial dysplasia, moderate gastric epithelial dysplasi
a, severe gastric epithelial dysplasia and intestinal-type gastric adenocar
cinoma were obtained, Immunocytochemistry was performed using antibodies di
rected against gastrin and its post-translational precursors, and the gastr
in/cholecystokinin B receptor. Positive staining was identified using the a
vidin-biotin immunoperoxidase method and quantified using an image analysis
system.
Results: Gastrin and its receptor were shown to be expressed in specimens o
f atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, epithelial dysplasia and the i
ntestinal type of gastric carcinoma.
Conclusion: Gastrin seems to be an important growth factor in gastric carci
nogenesis.