Background: Gastric cancer still counts as one of the
most common causes of cancer-related death in the world
(Meyers, 1998).
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the presence
of p53 and c-erbB-2 onceproteins in normal, dysplastic
and malignant gastric tissues, with correlation to histopathological
classification and lymph node metastasis.
Materials and methods: Specimens from normal
(n=18), dysplastic (n=14) and malignant gastric tissues
(n=57) were collected from Pathology Departments of National
Cancer Institute, Cairo University and Benha University
Hospital. 36 cases of gastric cancer showed lymph
node metastasis. Histopathological classification was performed
on hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, Immunohistochernical
expression of p53 and c-erbB-2 was estimated
using avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method.
Results: None of normal, or dysplastic gastric mucosa
showed nuclear p53 immunoreactivity, while p53 expression
was observed in 54% of gastric cancer (36% differentiated
adenocarcinoma and 69% undifferentiated type).
Expression of c-erbB-2 was observed in 7% only of dysplastic
mucosa and in 68% of gastric carcinoma (76% differentiated
and 62.5% undifferentiated variety). Expression
of p53, was significantly high in gastric carcinomas
with lymph node metastasis than in cancers with negative
lymph node metastasis p value < 0.01.
Conclusion: This study provide further evidence that
expression of both p53 and c-erbB-2 had a role in gastric
carcinogenesis and constitute additional criteria of high
grade of malignancy. At the same time the p53 expression
is an important prognostic indicator for patients with gastric
carcinoma than c-erbB-2. |
