Gastric epithelium proliferation in early Hp+ and Hp- gastritis: A flow cytometry study

Background: Helicobacter pylory increases cellular turn-over causing hyperp roliferation and possible assumption of neoplastic characteristics by the g astric epithelial cells. To verify whether patients at risk of cancer can b e identified at the very first stages of gastric disease, we studied a samp le of patients affected by early Hp+ and Hp- gastritis by flow cytometry an d assessed the methods commonly adopted to study gastric cell proliferation . Methods: 48 fresh biopsies taken from the gastric antrum and body of 24 p atients who had undergone endoscopy for dyspepsia, and 48,paraffin-embedded antrum and body biopsies taken from the files of our Department were studi ed by flow-cytometry. The following markers and parameters were considered: S-phase, proliferation index, PCNA and ploidy. Results: No correlation was found between Hp+ or Hp- gastritis and gastric cell proliferation and no c ases of aneuploidy were observed. Gastric proliferation was found to vary d epending on the methods, markers and type of biopsy employed. furthermore, proliferation expressed by PCNA was significantly different in antrum and b ody. Conclusions: The commonly studied proliferation markers do not allow t he early detection of patients at risk of gastric cancer by flow cytometry. Proliferation differences between body and antrum must be taken into accou nt in the investigation of gastric diseases.