The distinct expression patterns of claudin-10,-14,-17 and E-cadherin between adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and gastric cancer tissues

Background: Recent data indicate that the cell adhesion proteins are abnormally regulated in several human cancers and the expression of the cell adhesion proteins E-cadherin and claudin proteins is involved in the etiology and progression of cancer. It is clear that these protein represent promising targets for cancer detection, diagnosis, and therapy. Methods: To explore the expression distinction of the cell adhesion proteins claudin-10,-14,-17 and E-cadherin in the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues and gastric cancer tissues, 50 gastric cancer tissues and 50 samples of adjacent non-neoplastic tissues adjacent to the tumors were examined for expression of claudin-10,-14,-17 and E-cadherin by streptavidin-perosidase immunohistochemical staining method. Results: The positive expression rates of E-cadherin in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 32% and 74% respectively (P < 0.01). The positive expression rates of claudin-10 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 24% and 72% respectively (P < 0.01). The positive expression rates of claudin-17 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 18% and 70% (P < 0.01). In contrast, the positive expression rates of claudin-14 in gastric cancer tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues were 58% and 24% respectively (P = 0.015 < 0.05) Thus in our study, the expression of E-cadherin, claudin-10, and claudin-17 was down-regulated in gastric cancer tissue while the expression of claudin-14 was up-regulated. Correlations between claudins and E-cadherin expression with lymphatic metastasis were observed. Conclusion: Our study reveals that the expression of E-cadherin, claudin-10, and claudin-17 were down-regulated in gastric cancer tissue while the expression of claudin-14 was up-regulated and correlation between claudins and E-cadherin expression with lymphatic metastasis were observed.