A study on the expression of LI-cadherin in precancerous lesion and gastric cancer

Objective To study the expression of LI-cadherin in gastric cancer, gastric stromal tumor, chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Methods Two hundred and forty four specimens were collected, including normal epithelia (n=28), chronic superficial gastritis (n=30), chronic atrophic gastritis(n=42), intestinal metaplasia (n=58), gastric adenocarcinoma (n=46), paracancerous gastric tissues (n=30), gastric stromal tumor (n=10). The expression of LI-cadherin was detected by S-P immunohischemistry with purified goat polyclonal antibody. Results The expression of LI-cadherin in normal epithelia and chronic gastritis are all negative, the positive rates of LI-cadherin expression in intestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma is 83% (48/58) and 65% (30/46) respectively. By Laurien classification, the positive rate of LI-cadherin expression in intestinal type was higher(78% ) than those in the diffuse type (35%) (P<0.05). LI-cadherin was in positive correlation with lymph node metastasis and staging. Paracancerous tissues and gastric stromal tumor did not express LI-cadherin. Conclusions The abnormal expression of LI-cadherin was correlated with intestinal metaplasia and gastric adenocarcinoma. GCs with high LI-cadherin index have more lymph node metastasis. High expression rate of LI-cadherin in gastric cancer tissues may predict poor prognosis. Key words: Stomach neoplasms;  Precancers conditions;  Gene expression;  Prognosis;  Mucins