Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Gene Regulation and Targeted Therapy in Gastric Cancer Peritoneal Metastasis: Radiological Findings from Dual Energy CT and PET/CT
Published on: January 22, 2018
REG gene expression is associated with the infiltrating growth of gastric carcinoma
Yutaka Yonemura1, Shigeru Sakurai, Hiroshi Yamamoto
1Gastric Surgery Division, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan. y.yonemura@scchr.jp
Background:
The Reg gene is known to be involved in the growth of not only pancreatic B-cells, but also epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract and carcinoma of its lineage.
Methods:
Because, to the authors' knowledge, no studies have been reported regarding REG expression in gastric carcinoma, the authors investigated REG mRNA and REG protein expression using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical study and correlated the results with the clinical features of gastric carcinoma.
Results:
Using RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, reg mRNA and 16-kilodalton REG proteins were detected in two of eight human gastric carcinoma cell lines. Cytoplasmic localization of REG proteins in the cell lines was confirmed by fluorescent immunocytochemistry. The RT-PCR analysis revealed the presence of REG mRNA in as many as 77% (87 of 112 tumors) of primary gastric carcinoma tumors. Screening of a total of 195 patients with primary gastric carcinoma using immunoperoxidase staining revealed positive REG immunoreactivity in 60 of the 195 primary tumors (31%). REG expression in infiltrating tumors was found to be significantly higher compared with localized tumors (P < 0.05). Strong REG expression was noted in the cytoplasm of signet ring cell carcinoma tumors at a significantly higher incidence than in nonsignet ring cell tumors. Moreover, patients with REG-negative differentiated adenocarcinoma were found to have a significantly better prognosis compared with patients with REG-positive tumors. The incidence of venous invasion of REG-positive tumors was significantly higher than that of REG-negative tumors.
Conclusions:
The results of the current study suggest that the expression of the REG gene is closely related to the infiltrating property of gastric carcinoma, and may be a prognostic indicator of differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Related Concept Videos
Reporter Genes
Commonly used reporter...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology

