The detection of serotonin and gastrin in gastric carcinoma

It is believed that the immature precursor cells of gastric mucosa have multidirectional potency of differentiation and these cells can differentiate into both endocrine and nonendocrine tumor cells. Fifteen cases of surgically resected stomach with gastric nonendocrine carcinoma were studied by the three-layer immunoperoxidase method. Serotonin was found in five cases, gastrin in one case, and both serotonin and gastrin in three cases. Serotonin also was detected in the noncancerous mucosa in thirteen cases: ten showing positive cells in the antrum and seven in the body. Gastrin was found in the noncancerous mucosa in 13 cases: eight in the antrum, five in the body. In four cases, a few serotonin positive cells were found in glands showing intestinal metaplasia. No correlation was found between the endocrine tumor cells and the types of carcinoma. Because endocrine cells can be detected in general types of gastric carcinoma, these findings suggest that the different kinds of cancer cells (endocrine and nonendocrine) may have a common origin.