[The relationship between hydrolases and invasion of gastric carcinoma]

In order to clarify the relationship between hydrolases and the invasion of gastric carcinoma, both fibronectin and proteoglycan in pericancerous matrix and beta-galactosidase activity in gastric carcinoma were investigated by means of histochemical, immunohistochemical and ruthenium red electrocytochemical stains. The results showed that the activity of beta-galactosidase in mucous cell carcinoma was more intensive than that in well-differentiated and poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma. RR granules and fibronectin were not found in the pericancerous matrix close to the mucous cell carcinoma, but were obtained in the region far from the mucous cell carcinoma. Nevertheless, both of them were present and intact near the well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The result of this study suggests that mucous cell carcinoma may secrete beta-galactosidase into the surrounding matrix, inducing degradation of proteoglycan and fibronectin in favour of further infiltration and metastasis.