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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Genome-Wide Analysis of DNA Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Published on: September 18, 2020
Immunohistochemical and mutational analysis of FLASH in gastric carcinomas
Eun Goo Jeong1, Sung Hak Lee, Hae Woo Lee
1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract:
FLASH was initially identified as a pro-apoptotic protein that transmits an apoptosis signal during death receptor-induced apoptosis. Additionally, diverse biologic roles of FLASH, including TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation, cell-cycle progression and cell division, have been identified. Although such functions are important in cancer pathogenesis, little is known about the alterations of FLASH gene and FLASH protein expression in human cancers. In this study, we analyzed the expression of FLASH protein in 60 gastric adenocarcinomas by immunohistochemistry. We furthermore analyzed mutation of FLASH in exon 8, where two polyadenine tracts ((A)8 and (A)9) are present, by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) assay in 184 gastric adenocarcinomas. By immunohistochemistry, FLASH protein expression in cancer cells was detected positively in 42 gastric carcinoma tissues (70%), whereas its expression in epithelial cells of normal gastric mucosa was shown as no or very weak intensity. Mutational analysis detected one FLASH mutation in the gastric carcinomas (0.5%). The increased expression of FLASH in the malignant gastric epithelial cells compared to the normal mucosal epithelial cells suggests that FLASH expression may play a role in gastric tumorigenesis. Also, the data suggest that somatic mutation of FLASH is a rare event in gastric carcinomas.
Insights
FLASH protein is highly expressed in most gastric cancers, suggesting a role in tumor development. Mutations in the FLASH gene are rare in these cancers.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- FLASH (FLICE-associated huge, apoptosis-inducing protein) is known for its role in apoptosis and NF-kappaB signaling.
- Its involvement in cancer pathogenesis is recognized, but its expression and mutation status in human cancers remain largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of FLASH protein in gastric adenocarcinomas.
- To analyze mutations in exon 8 of the FLASH gene in gastric carcinomas.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry was used to assess FLASH protein expression in 60 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues.
- Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) assay was employed to detect FLASH gene mutations in exon 8 in 184 gastric adenocarcinomas.
Main Results:
- FLASH protein was detected in 70% of gastric carcinoma tissues, with significantly higher expression compared to normal gastric mucosa.
- A low frequency of FLASH mutation (0.5%) was observed in the analyzed gastric carcinomas.
Conclusions:
- Increased FLASH protein expression in gastric cancer cells suggests a potential role in gastric tumorigenesis.
- Somatic mutation of the FLASH gene appears to be an infrequent event in gastric carcinomas.
