Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 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
βig-h3 supports gastric cancer cell adhesion, migration and proliferation in peritoneal carcinomatosis
Zhen Li1, Zhifeng Miao, Guanghua Jin
1Department of General Surgery, Fourth Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, PR China.
Abstract:
βig-h3 is an extracellular matrix protein and its expression is highly induced by transforming growth factor (TGF-β). It has also been suggested to play an important role in the growth and invasion of colon and pancreatic cancers. In the present study, we demonstrated that βig-h3 is expressed in mesothelial cells, especially in patients with advanced gastric cancer. The positive rate of βig-h3 was significantly higher in cases with a more invasive and advanced serous-type, with visible peritoneal metastasis, and in peritoneal lavage cytological examination (PLC) (+) and peritoneal lavage fluid CEA mRNA(+) subgroups (p<0.05). Our study also showed that the expression of βig-h3 gradually increased with increasing TGF-β1 concentrations in vitro in a time-dependant manner. In addition, βig-h3 also induced human gastric carcinoma cell line (SGC-7901) cell adhesion in a dose-dependent manner and significantly increased cell migration and proliferation. The results suggest that βig-h3 expression in peritoneal mesothelial cells in gastric cancer patients is a marker of the biological behavior of gastric cancer and plays an important role in the process of peritoneal carcinomatosis.
Related Concept Videos
Integrins
Some ECM proteins assemble into a basement membrane to which the remaining components adhere. Proteoglycans typically form the bulk of the ECM while fibrous proteins, like collagen,...
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
Activation of Integrins
In "outside-in signaling," external factors in the extracellular space bind to exposed ligand binding sites on integrins. This causes the inactive protein to undergo a conformational change to become active. Integrins are often clustered on the cell membrane. Repetitive and regularly spaced ligand binding events provide an effective stimulus.

