E-CADHERIN AND C-MET EXPRESSION AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR IN GASTRIC-CANCER

E-cadherin has an important role in the cell-cell adhesion and is know n as an invasion suppressor gene. The c-met, which is a receptor of he patocyte growth factor receptor, is involved in the proliferative and motile activity in cancer cells. The invasive and metastatic capacitie s of gastric cancer were studied from the immunohistochemically examin ed expression of MET and E-cadherin. Among 127 primary gastric cancers , 47 (34%) tumors were found to have preserved E-cadherin expression a nd the other 84 tumors showed reduced E-cadherin expression. MET expre ssion was found in 55 (43%) tumors. A strong correlation was found bet ween reduced E-cadherin expression and a larger tumor, positive serosa l invasion, lymph node metastases or poor prognosis. Tumors with MET e xpression have the tendencies to invade deeply, to metastasize in more remote lymph nodes or peritoneum and to run a poor prognosis. MET ove r-expression and reduced E-cadherin expression were strongly associate d with lymph node metastasis, peritoneal dissemination and poor progno sis. This group of patients with simultaneously abnormal expressions o f these genes had a sixfold relative risk of death, as compared with p atients with tumors showing MET negative or preserved E-cadherin expre ssion. These results indicate that immunohistochemical combined analys es of MET and E-cadherin expression may be a powerful tool for the eva luation of invasive capacity and the prognosis of gastric cancer patie nts.