Expression of gastrin in developing gastric adenocarcinoma

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.