上皮型钙黏蛋白与散发性弥漫型胃癌

胃癌在世界范围内发病率高,死亡率也高,近些年肠型胃癌发病率有所下降,但弥漫型胃癌发病率不降反升。已知上皮型钙黏蛋白（E-cadherin, E-cd）与肿瘤的发生、侵袭和转移有关。E-cd胚系突变是遗传性弥漫型胃癌发病的遗传学基础,散发性弥漫型胃癌中常见其表达下调,但其下调的临床病理意义尤其是预后意义仍无定论。本文对E-cd在散发性弥漫型胃癌的表达情况及其下调机制进行了综述。

E-cadherin and sporadic diffuse gastric carcinoma

Gastric carcinoma(GC) is highly prevalent worldwide with a high rate of death. Although the incidence of intestinal GC has declined gradually, the incidence of diffuse GC has remained stable or even increased. It was well established that E-cadherin(E-cd) loss is involved in tumor initiation, infiltration and metastasis. E-cd germ line mutation is the genetic foundation for the hereditary diffuse GC. The down-regulation of E-cd expression was also observed in sporadic diffuse GC, yet its clinicopathologic significance, particularly to the prognosis of GC remains largely unknown. In this article, we reviewed expression pattern of E-cd in sporadic GC and its significance. The molecular mechanisms responsible for E-cd down-regulation in sporadic diffuse GC were also discussed.