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Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
Relationship between biological behavior and phenotypic expression in undifferentiated-type gastric carcinomas
Akira Kabashima1, Takashi Yao, Yoshihiko Maehara
1Department of Anatomic Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Summary
Most undifferentiated gastric carcinomas show an intestinal phenotype, differing in growth patterns. This study classified early undifferentiated gastric carcinomas by phenotype to understand their biological behavior.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Gastric carcinomas can exhibit gastric or intestinal phenotypes.
- Undifferentiated gastric carcinomas may also display distinct phenotypes, suggesting underlying biological variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To classify the phenotypes of early undifferentiated-type gastric carcinomas.
- To investigate the relationship between phenotype and biological behavior in these tumors.
Main Methods:
- Sixty intramucosal undifferentiated gastric carcinoma lesions were classified into four phenotypes (gastric, incomplete-intestinal, complete-intestinal, unclassified).
- Classification was based on the expression of specific markers: CD10, MUC2, small-intestinal mucinous antigen (SIMA), human gastric mucin (HGM), and concanavalin A (ConA).
Main Results:
- The majority of tumors were intestinal-type (67%), with 33% being gastric-type.
- While clinicopathological factors showed no significant differences, morphological variations were observed.
- Intestinal-type carcinomas more frequently exhibited glandular structures, whereas gastric-type carcinomas showed a middle-layer spreading pattern.
Conclusions:
- Undifferentiated gastric carcinomas frequently express an intestinal phenotype.
- Distinct growth patterns exist between undifferentiated gastric carcinomas with gastric versus intestinal phenotypes.
