DNA distributions in human normal, precancerous and cancerous breast tissue. I. Ploidy and cell cycle distribution

DNA distributions were recorded flow cytometrically in 19 normal, 23 precancerous tissues with epithelial proliferation and cell atypia (P1), 7 carcinomata lobularia in situ and intraductale carcinomas (P2) and in 44 invasive carcinomas of the human breast. The results were compared to histological findings, tumor staging and grading, lymph node involvement and age of the patients. DNA diploidy was found in all normal, 21 P1 tissues, 6 P2 tissues and 12 carcinomas; DNA aneuploidy in 2 P1 tissues, 1 P2 tissue and 32 carcinomas. Lobular carcinomas were preferentially involved in the DNA diploid group, duct carcinomas in the DNA aneuploid group. Cell cycle distribution analysis resulted in significantly higher percentages of cells in S- and G2M phase in DNA aneuploid carcinomas compared to normal and precancerous (P1, P2) tissues. The percentage of cells in G2M phase was significantly higher in DNA aneuploid carcinomas originating from patients younger than 50 years compared to patients older than 50 years. Correlations between the DNA-index, cell cycle distribution, lymph node involvement, tumour staging or histological type were not evident.     

乳腺癌患者bcl-2、p53、组织蛋白酶D因子表达的临床意义

目的 观察bcl-2、p53和组织蛋白酶D（CD）在乳腺癌组织中的表达,探讨其与乳腺癌组织学分级、腋淋巴结转移及预后的关系。方法 应用免疫组化方法（SP方法）检测bcl-2、p53、CD在86例乳腺癌及33例乳腺良性病变的表达。结果 bcl-2表达与组织学分级呈负相关,其阳性表达水平可反映肿瘤属分化程度,但其与腋淋巴结转移和预后无关。p53与组织学分级呈正相关、CD与组织学分级无关;p53和CD表达与腋淋巴结转移呈正相关,与预后呈负相关。结论 bcl-2、p53和CD可作为乳腺癌组织学分级、腋淋巴结转移和预后的判断指标。     

膜细胞骨架连接蛋白Ezrin在乳腺癌转移的表达及意义研究

目的研究乳腺癌组织中Ezrin、Muc1蛋白的表达及其临床病理意义。方法应用免疫组化SP法,检测56例乳腺癌组织、30例癌旁正常乳腺组织组织标本中Ezrin、Muc1的表达情况。结果 （1）乳腺癌组织中Ezrin、Muc1的表达率分别为62.50%、76.79%,与正常乳腺组织相比差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。（2）Ezrin、Muc1的表达与乳腺癌的原发肿瘤大小、病理类型无关（P〈0.05）,与组织学分级、临床TNM分期和淋巴结转移有关（P〈0.05）。（3）在乳腺癌中Ezrin与Muc1表达水平呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）。结论联合检测Ezrin、Muc1的表达有助于预测乳腺癌的恶性程度和转移潜能。     

Tumor-associated macrophages and CD3-ζ expression of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in human esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma

The clinical significance of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and CD3-zeta chain expression of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and their correlation in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are not very clear. Serial histological slides from 137 esophageal SCC patients who had undergone tumor resection were immunohistochemically studied with anti-CD68, anti-CD3-zeta and anti-CD3-epsilon antibodies. TAMs infiltration (expressed as macrophage index, M(phi)I) and CD3-zeta expression (judged by Z/E = CD3-zeta+ cells/CD3-epsilon+ cells ratio) in different tissue compartments were observed. We found that the total tumor tissue region had significantly higher macrophage density and lower CD3-zeta expression (mean +/- SD: M(phi)I(normal): 225.3 +/- 85.9; Z/E(total): 0.52 +/- 0.25; n = 137) relative to adjacent histologically normal esophageal squamous epithelium (M(phi)I(normal): 60.5 +/- 31.7, P < 0.001; Z/E(normal): 0.79 +/- 0.35, P = 0.001; n = 70). Significantly higher M(phi)I(stroma) (P = 0.006) and lower Z/E(total) (P = 0.016) were detected in patients with lymph node metastasis than in those without. Patients with high M(phi)I(total) and M(phi)I(cancer) but low Z/E(total) had poorer surgical outcomes. Univariate analysis of M(phi)I(total) and multivariate analysis of M(phi)I(total) with specific clinico-pathological parameters demonstrated M(phi)I(total) to be an independent prognostic factor for survival in esophageal SCC patients (Cox proportional hazard model, P = 0.029 and P = 0.031, respectively).     

Raf激酶抑制蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达及意义

目的探讨Raf激酶抑制蛋白（RKIP）在浸润性乳腺癌进展中的意义。方法应用免疫组化SP法检测RKIP在16例乳腺非典型增生性病变和48例浸润性乳腺癌原发灶及其淋巴结转移灶中的表达情况,并对RKIP表达与临床病理特征的关系行Spearman等级相关分析。结果由非典型增生性病变至乳腺癌原发灶、转移灶RKIP表达水平逐渐下降,乳腺癌淋巴结转移灶与原发灶及非典型增生性病变相比RKIP表达水平明显下降（P均〈0．05）;RKIP在乳腺癌组织中的表达与患者年龄、肿瘤大小及组织学分级均无明显相关性（P均〉0．05）。结论RKIP表达异常在浸润性乳腺癌转移过程中具有重要作用,可作为判断乳腺癌进展和预后的独立指标。     

甲状腺肿瘤组织中雌激素受体β1和β2的表达及其意义

采用RT-PCR检测10例甲状腺乳头状腺癌(PTC)和10例癌旁正常甲状腺组织雌激素受体(ER)β1、ERβ2以及ERα的表达,同时用免疫组织化学方法检测107例甲状腺癌、56例甲状腺腺瘤和10例正常甲状腺组织中ERβ1和ERβ2表达,并结合甲状腺癌ERα表达及其它主要临床病理参数进行分析.结果显示,ERα mRNA在PTC组织的表达明显高于癌旁正常组织,ERβ2 mRNA在PTC组织的表达明显低于癌旁正常组织(P＜0.05);正常甲状腺组织、甲状腺腺瘤和甲状腺癌中3种ER的表达差异均有统计学意义( P＜0.05);ERβ1和ERβ2在甲状腺癌中的表达与其组织类型有关;甲状腺组织中ERβ1和ERβ2的表达与ERα呈低、中度负相关(ERβ1:r=-0.206,P=0.042;ERβ2:r=-0.545,P＜0.01);ERβ2的表达还与淋巴结转移以及TNM分期有关.提示ERβ2的表达缺失可能导致甲状腺滤泡上皮细胞的增生和癌变以及肿瘤的演进,并且有一定的预后评估价值.     

Significance of macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 expression and macrophage infiltration in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

OBJECTIVES: Macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine-inducing infiltration of macrophages, which can play several roles in tumor growth and metastasis. We have attempted to clarify the relationship between MCP-1 expression and macrophage infiltration in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: Paraffin-embedded sections of tissue samples taken from 56 patients with esophageal SCC after curative surgery were immunohistochemically stained for MCP-1, CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR-2), and thymidine phosphorylase (TP). Macrophage recruitment in SCC was evaluated by monocytic count based on CD68 immunostaining. Microvessels immunostained for Factor VIII-related antigen were counted in SCC, and microvessel density (MVD) was determined. Ki-67 labeling index was calculated based on Ki-67 immunostaining, and an apoptotic index was calculated based on the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labeling. RESULTS: MCP-1 was expressed in cancer cells of 31 SCC (55.4%) and in stromal cells mainly identified as macrophages of 16 SCC (28.6%). CCR-2 was expressed in stromal cells of all SCC and in vascular endothelial cells of 15 SCC (26.8%). There was a significant correlation between the expression of MCP-1 in cancer cells and of CCR-2 in stromal cells. TP was expressed in stromal cells in 76.7% of the SCC. Monocytic count, MVD, and Ki-67 LI in SCC with MCP-1 expression in cancer cells were higher than that without, and apoptotic index in SCC with MCP-1 expression in cancer cells were lower than that without. Furthermore, the monocytic count was positively correlated with MVD, while it was inversely correlated with apoptotic index. Clinicopathologically, MCP-1 expression in cancer cells was correlated with venous invasion, distant metastasis, and lymph node metastasis. Monocytic count in SCC with venous invasion, distant metastasis, or lymph node metastasis was higher than that without them. Five-year survival rate in the patients with high monocytic count or MCP-1 expression was worse than that with a low monocytic count or without MCP-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that MCP-1 expression and macrophage infiltration is associated with angiogenic promotion in esophageal SCC. MCP-1 expression may be interactively associated with macrophage infiltration in esophageal SCC; MCP-1 may play an important role in tumor angiogenesis through production of angiogenic factors, such as TP, by recruited macrophages in esophageal SCC. Furthermore, CCR-2 expression in vascular endothelial cells may participate partially in angiogenesis. Clinicopathologically, esophageal SCC patients with MCP-1 expression have no favorable prognosis.     

Associations Between Elastography Findings and Clinicopathological Factors in Breast Cancer

This study aimed to explore the clinical significance of breast tumor tissue stiffness based on ultrasound elastographic evaluation in clinical breast cancer.Tumor tissue stiffness is mainly regulated by interactions among tumor cells, stromal cells, and extracellular matrix and was recently regarded as a representative feature of tumor microenvironment. Basic research has already revealed that the tumor stiffness can lead to tumor progression; however, little is known about its clinical significance because thus far, no useful modality is available in the clinical setting.We investigated the tumor stiffness by strain elastography in 503 consecutive patients with invasive breast cancer. Correlations between stiffness and clinicopathological factors, including tumor size, lymph node involvement, tumor subtypes, and stromal-related genes’ expressions in primary breast tumor, were statistically examined.We identified that clinical tumor stiffness significantly correlated with lymph node involvement and invasive tumor size but not with hormonal receptor expressions, human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 status, and ki67 labeling index by analyses of both categorical and continuous variables of stiffness. On multivariate analyses, axillary lymph node metastasis was an independent factor that influenced the stiffness of primary breast tumor. In the gene expression analyses, relatively hard tumors had a significantly high gene expression of lysyl oxidase compared with soft tumors.Our study showed a close relationship between primary tumor stiffness by elastographic evaluation and lymph node involvement in clinical breast cancer. Further investigations on tumor-related tissue stiffness are required.     

Quantitative determination of telomerase activity in breast cancer and benign breast diseases.

Telomerase plays an important role in maintaining the stability of chromosomes. This ribonucleoprotein prevents chromosome ends (telomeres) from gradual loss with each cell division. It enables tumor cells to maintain telomere length, allowing indefinite replicative capacity. Telomerase activity has been detected in the majority of tumor and germ cells and in immortalized cell lines. Quantitative telomerase PCR-ELISA (TeloTAGGG Telomerase PCR ELISA(PLUS)) was evaluated for distinguishing benign and malignant breast tissue. Activity of telomerase was determined in 27 samples of fibrocystic and dysplastic tissues, 28 fibroadenomas and phylloid tumors, and 154 breast cancer tissues; 59 specimens were analyzed retrospectively. Analytical precision and linearity of the assay was tested using breast carcinoma cell line ZR-75-1 and breast tumor tissue extracts. About 4% of tumor samples were excluded from analysis due to interferences in the PCR reaction. Relative telomerase activity differed significantly in the groups of dysplastic tissues, fibroadenomas and carcinomas. The highest activity was found in breast cancer tissue. This method can identify breast cancer tissue with 73% clinical sensitivity and 93% specificity as compared to benign breast tumors. We did not find a correlation between telomerase activity and the tissue levels of estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2/neu oncoprotein concentration, tumor size, and lymph node positivity. Probability of disease-free survival was significantly lower for patients with telomerase activity higher than median value. As the assay for telomerase activity has very high analytical sensitivity and high specificity for cancer cells, this routinely used method may prove useful for distinguishing malignant phenotype of breast tissues.     

胃癌组织中P27表达与cyclin D1、cyclin E表达的相关性

目的:检测胃癌组织中P27的表达及其与cyclin D_1、cyclin E表达的相关性,并探讨其意义.方法:临床病理资料齐全的胃癌蜡块标本54例,正常胃黏膜标本15例,采用SP免疫组化方法检测P27、cyclin D和cyclin E在其中的表达.结果:胃癌组织54例中有20例P27表达阳性(37.0%),正常胃组织中15例有11例P27呈阳性表达(73.3%),胃癌组织与正常胃组织相比,P27的表达有明显差异(P<0.05),胃癌组织中P27的表达与患者的性别、年龄及肿瘤大小,浸润深度,分化程度无相关性(P>0.05),而与TNM分期及有无淋巴结转移明显相关(P<0.05),P27的表达与cyclin D_1的表达呈负相关(r=-0.332),而与cyclin E的表达无明显相关性(p>0.05).结论:胃癌组织中P27表达与正常胃组织有显著差异,胃癌组织中P27蛋白表达与淋巴结转移及临床分期密切相关,与cyclin E的表达呈负相关.     

Budding as a useful determinant of the optimal treatment for T1 rectal carcinomas

BACKGROUND/AIMS: If a locally excised specimen has poorly differentiated or undifferentiated histology, positive vascular invasion, or massive invasion to the cut end or a positive margin, additional surgery is recommended for the treatment of T1 rectal carcinoma. However, positive predictive values of these histological criteria are low. This study was undertaken to clarify more reliable risk factor(s) for lymph node metastasis in T1 rectal carcinomas. METHODOLOGY: In 58 patients with T1 rectal carcinoma undergoing local excision or radical surgery, the associations between lymph node metastasis or intrapelvic recurrence and clinicopathological features were studied using multiple regression analysis with special reference to tumor budding at the invasive front. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was observed in 1 of 9 patients undergoing additional bowel resection after local excision, and in 2 of 24 patients undergoing radical surgery alone. Intrapelvic extrarectal recurrence was observed in 3 of 25 patients undergoing local excision alone. Logistic regression analysis revealed that budding at the invasive front alone was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis or intrapelvic recurrence (p = 0.0484). CONCLUSIONS: Additional bowel resection with lymph node dissection should be recommended for locally excised T1 rectal carcinoma with budding at the invasive front.     

Down-regulation of CXCL12 mRNA expression by promoter hypermethylation and its association with metastatic progression in human breast carcinomas

Purpose  Not only is the expression of CXCR4 on breast cancers a key determinant of tumor metastasis, CXCL12 exhibiting peak levels of constitutive expression in organs representing the first destinations of cancer metastasis, but is proposed to be also essential for the organ-specific metastatic process. Methods  In this study, the expressions of CXCR4 and CXCL12 were investigated using quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in samples of 63 primary breast carcinomas and 20 normal breast tissues. Using methylation-specific PCR, we also analyzed the methylation status of CXCL12. Results  Both up-regulation of CXCR4 and down-regulation of CXCL12 were observed in primary breast carcinomas. Over-expression of CXCR4 mRNA was significantly related to lymph node metastasis status and strong Her-2 expression, while decreased expression of CXCL12 mRNA was significantly associated with positive lymph node metastasis and estrogen receptor negativity. Methylation-specific PCR showed that 52.4% of breast tumors were hypermethylated in the CXCL12 promoter region. The expression levels of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 1 and DNMT3B were significantly higher in the CXCL12-methylated breast carcinomas than in the CXCL12-unmethylated ones. Conclusions  In summary, DNA hypermethylation of CXCL12 plays an important role in the down-regulation of CXCL12 expression in breast carcinomas. Cancer cells lacking expression of CXCL12, but maintaining over-expression of CXCR4, can selectively spread to target organs in which the ligand is highly secreted. Wei Zhou and Zheng Jiang contributed equally to this work.     

Apoptosis in breast cancer: relationship with other pathological parameters

Apoptosis is a frequent phenomenon in breast cancer and it can be detected by light microscopy in conventional histopathological sections or by special staining techniques. The number of apoptotic cells as a percentage of cells present, or the number of apoptotic cells per square millimetre of neoplastic tissue, is usually described as the apoptotic index (AI). In breast cancer, the AI is not related to tumour size, axillary lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis at diagnosis. It is greater in invasive ductal carcinomas than in other histological types. High AI is also related to high histological grade, high nuclear grade, comedo-type necrosis, lack of tubule formation, and dense infiltration of the tumour by lymphocytes. Sex steroid receptor-negative tumours have greater AIs than the sex steroid receptor-positive ones. Aneuploid breast cancers with high S-phase fractions (SPFs) also have high AI values compared with diploid tumours with low SPFs. p53-Positive breast cancers have high AIs, whereas tumours that are Bcl-2 positive have low AIs. The AI shows a strong positive correlation to all direct or indirect indicators of cell proliferation, such as mitotic index and Ki67 immunolabelling. Univariate survival analyses show that a high AI is linked with unfavourable disease outcome in axillary lymph node-negative and -positive breast cancer, but multivariate analyses indicate that AI is not an independent prognostic factor. In conclusion, a high AI is related to malignant cellular features and indicators of invasiveness and cell proliferation in breast cancer.     

Hypermethylation and aberrant expression of Wnt antagonist secreted frizzled-related protein 1 in gastric cancer

AIM： To identify the methylation of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 （SFRP1） in gastric cancer and to investigate the aberrant expression of SFRP1 and its correlation with the clinical pathological features of patients.
METHODS： We determined SFRP1 methylation and SFRP1 mRNA expression in 3 gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901, BGC-823, HGC-27, from 52 primary gastric cancer specimens and matched tumor adjacent tissue specimens by methylation-specific （MSP） PCR and RT-PCR respectively. Fisher＇s exact test was used to analyze the statistical association between clinical pathological data and aberrant expression of SFRP1.
RESULTS： In 3 cancer cell lines, BGC-823 and HGC-27 had methylated SFRP1 and lost SFRP1 mRNA expression. After treatment of BGC-823 and HGC-27 with the demethylating agent, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, SFRP1 was re-expressed. In 52 primary gastric cancer specimens and matched tumor adjacent tissue specimens, hypermethylation of SFRP1 was detected in 23 （44%） and 8 （15%） specimens respectively （x^2= 10.34, P 〈 0.01）. Loss of SFRP1 expression was detected in 17（33%） and 6 （12%） specimens respectively （x^2= 6.75, P 〈 0.01）. There was a significant correlation between SFRP1 hypermethylation and SFRP1 expression loss. SFRP1 expression was also correlated significantly with tumor stage and lymph node status, but not with patient sex, age and histological type.
CONCLUSION： SFRP1 inactivation is a common and early event caused mainly by hypermethylation in gastric cancer. SFRP1 expression loss may be correlated with tumor metastasis in primary gastric cancer.     

5alpha-reductases in human breast carcinoma: possible modulator of in situ androgenic actions

The expression of 5alpha-reductase types 1 and 2 was examined in human breast carcinoma using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Immunoreactivity for 5alpha-reductase isozymes was also correlated with various clinicopathological parameters to examine possible local regulatory mechanisms of sex steroids, including progesterone and androgens, in human breast carcinoma tissues. Immunoreactivity for 5alpha-reductase type 1 was detected in the cytoplasm and possibly in the nuclear membrane of tumor cells in 35 of 60 invasive ductal carcinomas (58%), and type 2 signal was detected in 9 of these 60 cases (15%). The results from RT-PCR (n = 8) were consistent with those from immunohistochemistry. A significant positive correlation was detected between 5alpha-reductase type 1 immunoreactivity and androgen and progesterone receptor A or B labeling indexes, and immunoreactivities of 5alpha-reductase type 2, 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5, or 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, which recognizes both types I and II. An inverse correlation was detected between 5alpha-reductase type 1 immunoreactivity and tumor size, histological grade, or Ki-67 labeling index. 5alpha-Reductase type 2 immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 immunoreactivity, but not with other parameters. This study suggests that 5alpha-reductase type 1 is mainly expressed in human breast carcinoma, which may play an important role in the in situ production and actions of the potent androgen, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, including inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, in hormone-dependent human breast carcinoma.     

APPL1表达与结直肠癌发生发展的关系及意义

目的:研究APPL1蛋白在人结直肠癌组织中的表达情况与临床病理参数的关系.方法:收集35例新鲜结直肠癌及27例正常直肠黏膜组织,采用免疫组织化学SP法和RT-PCR法检测APPL1在结直肠癌组织及正常直肠黏膜组织中的表达.采用半定量积分分级对该蛋白的表达强弱进行评分.结果:免疫组织化学和RT-PCR结果显示,APPL1蛋白在结直肠癌组织以及正常直肠黏膜组织中普遍表达,但该蛋白和相应的mRNA在癌组织中的表达高于对照组(P<0.05).在35例结直肠癌组织中,APPL1表达与分化程度、淋巴结转移、TNM分期相关(P<0.05),与性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、组织学类型无明显相关(P>0.05).结论:APPL1蛋白在结直肠癌组织中的表达上调,且该蛋白表达与患者肿瘤的分化程度、淋巴结转移情况以及TNM分期有关.APPL1有可能成为结直肠癌治疗的一个新靶点.     

Differential gene and protein expression in primary gastric carcinomas and their lymph node metastases as revealed by combined cDNA microarray and tissue microarray analysis

OBJECTIVE: To gain insight into the molecular events of lymph node metastasis of human gastric carcinoma. METHODS: The gene expression profile of five matched primary gastric carcinomas and their lymph node metastases was analyzed by complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray. Differential genes were identified in the metastatic and corresponding primary tumor pairs. Among the differentially expressed genes, carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP 4) genes were detected by RT-PCR. CTTN protein expression was examined by tissue microarray. RESULTS: There was a high expression (over twofold) of 44 genes and a low expression (under twofold) of 32 genes in lymph node metastasis compared with primary gastric carcinoma, respectively. CAII mRNA was downregulated and IGFBP 4 mRNA was upregulated in paired lymph node metastases of gastric carcinomas. The overexpression of CTTN protein was related to the lymph node metastasis and the clinical stage of gastric carcinomas. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there is a low expression of genes relative to growth signal and immune response in lymph node metastases, and a high expression of genes relative to growth factor, cell cycle, cell motility and adhesion in lymph node metastases compared with primary gastric carcinomas. The expression of CTTN was related to the invasion and metastasis of gastric cancer.     

Profile of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 circulating levels in gastric cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) has been shown to act as a chemokine in the recruitment of monocyte/macrophages during inflammation states. It acts as an important factor in the cytokine network, which regulates tumor proliferation, whereas the association between serum MCP-1 level and gastric cancer has not yet been clarified. METHODS: The serum concentration of MCP-1 in 76 gastric cancer patients and in 45 normal controls was determined using an immunoradiometric assay. The concentration of MCP-1 in the 47 cancer tissue samples was also determined. RESULTS: The serum concentration of MCP-1 in patients with advanced carcinoma was significantly lower than that in controls. The serum concentration of MCP-1 in patients with advanced carcinoma was significantly lower than that in patients with early carcinoma. The serum concentration of MCP-1 was associated with clinicopathological factors including lymph node metastasis, serosal invasion and histological differentiation of the tumor. In patients who underwent palliative surgery, the serum MCP-1 level significantly decreased postoperatively, whereas in patients who underwent curative surgery the serum MCP-1 level tended to increase. The 4-year survival rate in patients whose serum MCP-1 levels were lower than or equal to the median value was significantly lower than that in patients whose MCP-1 levels were higher than the median value. The tissue concentration of MCP-1 in the cancer tended to decrease in accordance with disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: The serum level of MCP-1 decreased in accord with disease progression, which reflects local consumption in gastric cancer. Serum MCP-1 may be a useful marker that reflects the host's local resistance to the tumor.