Expression of guanylyl cyclase-c and caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2 in human gastric cancer and precursor lesions

Abstract

To investigate the expression of guanylyl cyclase-C (GC-C) and caudal type homeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) in human gastric mucosa at different stages and the significance thereof. An Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression of GC-C and CDX-2 in 23 specimens of gastric carcinoma and matching noncancerous tissues. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of GC-C and CDX2 in the gastric carcinoma tissues and matching noncancerous tissues too. The GC-C and CDX2 expression rates were 39.1% and 39.1% respectively in the intestinal metaplasia specimens, 55.6% and 55.6% respectively in the dysplasia specimens, and 56.7 % and 60.0% in the gastric carcinoma specimens, all significantly higher than those in the normal mucosa specimens (all P = 0.000) without significant differences in the expression of GC-C and CDX-2 among the 3 pathological groups. The GC-C and CDX-2 expression was positively correlated with Lauren classification, The expression levels of GC-C and CDX-2 were significantly higher in the intestinal-type than in the diffuse-type gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). The GC-C expression was positively correlated with the expression of CDX-2 in intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinoma. Ectopic expression of GC-C and CDX2 in human gastric mucosa may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of intestinal-type gastric carcinoma. Detection of GC-C and CDX2 helps diagnose gastric carcinoma and precursor lesions.