Expression of EphA2 and E-cadherin in Gastric Cancer: Correlated with Tumor Progression and Lymphogenous Metastasis

摘要

In this study, gastric cancer progression was correlated with the over-expression of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular (Eph)A2 receptor and down-expression of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin). Immunohistochemistry of EphA2 and E-cadherin were performed on these tumor samples from 165 primary lesions of gastric cancer. The results showed that expression of EphA2 was obviously increased in gastric cancer tissues (P??0.01), which was positively correlated with the depth of cancer invasion, tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage and lymph node metastasis (P??0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly reduced (P??0.01), which was negatively correlated with the depth of cancer invasion, grade of tumor differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P??0.05). The correlation between EphA2 and E-cadherin expression was negative (r?=??0.198, P?=?0.011). In conclusion, either the over-expression of EphA2 or the down-expression of E-cadherin is correlated with cancer progression and lymphogenous metastasis in gastric cancer, suggesting that both of them may play an important role in tumor progression and metastasis.