Content of glucocorticoid receptor and arginase in gastric cancer and normal gastric mucosal tissues

The content of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and arginase in human gastric cancer and the corresponding normal gastric mucosal tissues was determined. Among the 25 patients studied, the GR content in gastric cancer tissues was 33.2 +/- 10.2 fmol/mg protein versus 7.6 +/- 3.4 fmol/mg protein in gastric mucosal tissues. This difference is statistically significant (P less than 0.005). Of the 25 paired samples, 19 cancer tissues contained GR, whereas only seven of the normal mucosal tissues had GR. The level of arginase in gastric cancer tissues in 19 patients was assayed, it was 26.6 +/- 4.2 ng/mg protein which is also significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosal tissues (13.5 +/- 1.8 ng/mg protein) (P less than 0.005). Since glucocorticoids and arginase are potent immune suppressive agents, the increased level of GR and arginase in gastric cancer tissue suggest that these glucocorticoid-related factors in gastric cancer tissue may play a partial role in regulating cellular immunity.

[Relationship between the effectiveness of CDDP therapy and the nuclear DNA content in advanced-recurrent gastric cancer cases]

A microspectrophotometric analysis of the DNA content has been performed on 9 advanced recurrent gastric cancer patients with measurable lesions, who has either been treated by CDDP alone or with other chemotherapeutics during a three-year period since, 1984. Histograms of the DNA content were classified into four ploidy patterns. All of the 4 responder cases (CR, PR, MR) showed type, IV, although only one of 5 non-responder cases revealed the same typing. In one of the two CR cases the DNA ploidy pattern, which was examined before and after the therapy, changed from type IV to type II. Thus it appears that an analysis of the DNA content may be useful in evaluating the effectiveness of different chemotherapies.

[Evaluation of DNA content in gastric dysplasia and carcinoma by image cytometry]

In 30 cases of gastric dysplasia and 10 cases of gastric carcinoma, DNA content was studied by IBAS image analysis system. The mean DNA level increased steadily with the advance of histologic gradation, and the highest DNA content was observed in gastric carcinoma. No case of aneuploidy was found in mild dysplasia. In moderate dysplasia, aneuploid cells were occasionally encountered. Severe dysplasia had a lower percentage (4.48%), and gastric carcinoma was characterized by a high percentage of aneuploid cells (14.54%).

[Effect of UFT on nuclear DNA distribution of gastric and colorectal carcinomas]

To evaluate the effect of UFT on nuclear DNA distribution of carcinoma, we measured the DNA content of biopsy specimens and resected specimens obtained from 18 patients by microfluorometry. The tumors consisted of 7 gastric and 11 colorectal carcinomas. Five patients who received administration of 400mg of UFT (400mg of tegafur) were classified as the chemotherapy group and another 13 patients were classified as the control group. 1) DNA indices of biopsy specimens and resected specimens of the same patients showed almost the same values both in the control group (r = 0.81) and in the chemotherapy group (r = 0.89) (p less than 0.05). 2) S and S + G2M fractions of resected specimens showed almost the same values as compared with those of corresponding biopsy specimen in the control group. However, in the chemotherapy group S and S + G2M fractions of resected specimens showed a tendency to be higher than those of corresponding biopsy specimen (0.05 less than p less than 0.1). This study indicates that the biopsy specimens are sufficient for DNA analysis and that UFT-induced DNA change may be increase of S and S + G2M fraction.

Solubilization and immunopurification of a somatostatin receptor from the human gastric tumoral cell line HGT-1

The human gastric tumoral cell line HGT-1 was previously shown to contain a membrane somatostatin receptor negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase through a pertussis toxin-sensitive inhibitory GTP-binding regulatory protein (Gi) (Reyl-Desmars, F., Laboisse, C., and Lewin, M. J. M. (1986) Regul. Pept. 16, 207-215). In this study, we have solubilized this receptor in a free unoccupied form using Triton X-100 as detergent and [125I-Tyr11]somatostatin-14 to monitor specific binding. Furthermore, we have prepared a monoclonal antibody against a chromatographically enriched soluble receptor fraction and used this antibody (30F3) to immunopurify the receptor in conjunction with Sepharose-somatostatin-14 immunopurification and steric exclusion high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purified fraction showed 18,600-fold enrichment in terms of specific binding (i.e. from 0.6 +/- 0.05 to 11,300 +/- 830 pmol/mg of protein) and a single dissociation constant (kappa D) of 76 +/- 8 nM. On HPLC, it migrated as a single and symmetric 90-kDa peak. Moreover, after 125I-protein labeling, it gave a single 90-kDa band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis autoradiography. On the other hand, the 30F3 monoclonal antibody immunoblotted with a single 90-kDa band contained in the HGT-1 cell membrane. We therefore suggest that this antibody is specific to the HGT-1 membrane somatostatin receptor, that this receptor has a molecular mass of 90 kDa, and that we have obtained a homogeneous preparation of nondenatured receptor suitable for further cloning studies.

[Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis using a monoclonal antibody to bromodeoxyuridine on gastric cancers]

Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis using a monoclonal antibody to Bromodeoxyuridine was performed on 117 gastric cancers. Dissociated cells were stained with indirect immunostaining for BrdU (FITC-BrdU) and propidium iodide. Bivariate BrdU/DNA distribution were obtained using EPICS-C flow cytometry. Tumor ploidy was classified as follows, D1: diploidy, D2: diploidy + aneuploidy, A1: single aneuploidy, A2: multiple aneuploidies. The ploidies of noncancerous gastric mucosa were all diploidy and that of S-phase fraction(SPF) were ranged from 0.0% to 1.2%. In 117 gastric cancers, aneuploidy was observed in 80 cases, D2: 38, A1: 15, A2: 27. SPF was higher in aneuploidy (14.5 +/- 5.1%) than diploidy (6.1 +/- 5.1%). Significant differences were observed between that of D1 (6.1 +/- 2.5) and D2 (13.6 +/- 6.2), A1 (12.5 +/- 4.5), A2 (16.0 +/- 3.2), and A1 and A2 (p less than 0.01). The patients with aneuploid tumors had poor prognosis than diploid tumors (p less than 0.05). In concerned with DNA ploidy pattern, the patients with A2 had most poor prognosis than the other (p less than 0.05). Furthermore, the patients with SPF over 10% had poor prognosis than that of SPF below 10%. These results indicated that DNA ploidy pattern and SPF may possibly be useful prognostic markers for gastric cancers.

Promotion by bombesin of gastric carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Wistar rats

The effects of bombesin on the incidence, number, histological type, and depth of involvement of gastric cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) were investigated in male Wistar rats. Rats received alternate-day s.c. administration of 20 or 40 micrograms/kg body weight of bombesin in depot form after p.o. treatment with the carcinogen for 25 weeks. Prolonged administration of bombesin at 40 micrograms/kg led to a significant increase in the incidence and number per rat of gastric cancers of the glandular stomach at Week 52. In rats that had received alternate-day injections of 20 micrograms/kg of bombesin, the number of gastric cancers per rat, but not the incidence of cancer, was significantly more than in untreated rats. However, bombesin at both dosages did not affect the histological appearance of the lesions or their depth of involvement. At Weeks 30 and 52, norepinephrine concentrations in the fundic and antral portion of the gastric walls and labeling indices in the antral and fundic mucosae were significantly higher in rats treated with bombesin at both dosages than in untreated rats. These findings indicate that bombesin enhances gastric carcinogenesis after administration of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine is stopped and that this effect may be related to its effects in increasing tissue norepinephrine concentrations in the stomach wall and increasing cell proliferation in the gastric mucosa.

Expression of ras oncogene p21 protein in early gastric carcinoma and adjacent gastric epithelia

The expression of the ras gene product p21 in normal gastric mucosa, early gastric carcinoma of diffuse (gastric) and intestinal types, and in adjacent mucosal abnormalities is reported. The analysis was performed on paraffin sections by an immunohistochemical assay using the mouse monoclonal antibody RAP-5 and the rat monoclonal antibody Y13-259. Expression of ras p21 was assessed by staining intensity and percentage of positively stained cells. In comparison to normal gastric mucosa of non-cancer patients, p21 was overexpressed in nearly all early carcinomas of both types and in the dysplastic and/or metaplastic mucosal alterations accompanying intestinal type of gastric cancer. Increased p21 expression was also observed in the normal-appearing mucosa adjacent to early carcinomas of diffuse type, but not in the morphologically normal gastric epithelium adjacent to the intestinal type. The results of this investigation suggest that ras p21 overexpression may be related to early events of human gastric carcinogenesis. The study supports the notion of different pathways in the development of diffuse (gastric) and intestinal types of gastric carcinomas.

c-erbB-2 oncogene product staining in gastric adenocarcinoma. An immunohistochemical study

The c-erbB-2 oncogene has been shown to be amplified in a variety of human adenocarcinomas. Antibodies to the protein product, p185, have been used for immunostaining of paraffin-embedded material, and have demonstrated that high levels of c-erbB-2 protein expression correlate with gene amplification under certain conditions. In studies by others, amplification has been demonstrated in 40 per cent of tubular type adenocarcinomas of the stomach, and an immunohistochemical study on frozen tissue has demonstrated staining in 3 out of 10 cases. Our study, using paraffin-embedded material, demonstrates staining in 19 per cent of 126 cases using a polyclonal antibody. Of the positive cases, 75 per cent were tubular or papillary type (P less than 0.025), and prominent staining was restricted to this group. Three cases showed well-defined positive areas in keeping with clonal expression of p185. No specific staining of normal or dysplastic epithelium adjacent to the carcinomas was found.

[A case of primary gastric choriocarcinoma]

A 66-year-old man with a primary gastric choriocarcinoma is presented. The pre-operative diagnosis of the gastric barium examination and an endoscopy was an unusual gastric carcinoma in the antrum. At laparotomy, an abscess in the lesser sac that had developed by a tumoral penetrance was found. Thus a total gastrectomy and a lymphadenectomy with a reconstruction was performed. The resected specimen was found to be a Borrmann 1 type tumor, and a histological examination showed it to be a choriocarcinoma with a syncytiotrophoblast, that was immunostained by human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). The physical findings however, disclosed no tumor in the testis. The serum HCG was found to be 1,380 IU/l on the 7th postoperative day, then a pulmonary metastases appeared and progressed, and the patient died on the 22nd postoperative day.

Composite carcinoid-adenocarcinoma of the stomach associated with multiple gastric carcinoids and nonantral gastric atrophy

A case of multiple gastric carcinoids and nonantral atrophic gastritis in which the larger tumor was a composite carcinoid-adenocarcinoma is presented. The two components of the composite tumor immunohistochemically showed clear-cut diverging functional differentiations although the available evidence supported a common histogenesis from the metaplastic intestinal epithelium of the gastric mucosa. The carcinoid tissue of the composite tumor, which showed "atypical" features, also differed from the other, pure carcinoids, in which the histologic appearance was "typical." Total gastrectomy performed 1 month after the original gastric resection with antrectomy disclosed regressive changes in the endocrine cell proliferations of the gastric stump consistent with the withdrawal of a stimulating effect of the antral gastrin.

The effect of tamoxifen and estrogen receptor status on survival in gastric carcinoma

One hundred patients were entered in a randomized, controlled study of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in gastric carcinoma. Estrogen receptor status was established by an immunohistologic method (ERD5) and 55.8% of the tumors were positive. Tamoxifen had no overall effect on survival, but there was a significant decrease in the survival time of the patients with ERD5-positive tumors. Estrogen receptor status (by the ERD5 method) is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Tamoxifen therapy does not prolong survival, and new therapeutic strategies require investigation.

Distributions of tegafur in tissues of gastric adenocarcinoma patients: tissue uptakes and concentrations in plasma after oral and rectal administrations

Fifty-one gastric adenocarcinoma patients were divided into two groups, according to the route of administration of the anticancer drug. One group was given FT-207 (tegafur, an enteric coated granule) orally and the other group, FT-207 in the form of a suppository. Blood and tissue concentrations of the drug were examined after a three-day administration of 750 mg at 09.00 and 21.00 hours. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the concentrations of FT-207 and its metabolite 5-FU in the tissues. Levels of 5-FU in the excised tumor averaged 0.256 and 0.160 micrograms/g, in oral and rectal administrations, respectively, and levels in normal lymph nodes averaged 0.174 and 0.179 micrograms/g, respectively. The difference in 5-FU levels between normal and tumor tissues was statistically significant (P less than 0.05).

Localization of transforming growth factor alpha and its receptor in gastric mucosal cells. Implications for a regulatory role in acid secretion and mucosal renewal

Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) shares with epidermal growth factor (EGF) structural homology (35%), a common cell-surface membrane receptor (TGF alpha/EGF receptor), and a nearly identical spectrum of biological activity, including inhibition of gastric acid secretion. Herein, we report expression of TGF alpha mRNA in normal gastric mucosa of the adult guinea pig, rat, and dog. TGF alpha mRNA was also detected in matched surgically resected gastric mucosa and adjacent gastric carcinoma from 10 patients, and in gastric mucosa adjacent to a benign ulcer from an additional patient. TGF alpha protein was quantitated by radioimmunoassay and was present in tumor and adjacent mucosa. TGF alpha/EGF receptor mRNA was also detected in gastric mucosa from all species studied. Localization of TGF alpha and TGF alpha/EGF receptor mRNA expression was examined in samples of unfractionated guinea pig gastric mucosa and from chief cell-enriched and parietal cell-enriched fractions. All samples exhibited TGF alpha and TGF alpha/EGF receptor expression. The TGF alpha signal was greatest in the parietal cell fraction (5.8-fold increase), but was also enhanced in the chief cell fraction (1.9-fold increase) relative to the unfractionated gastric mucosa. Like TGF alpha expression, TGF alpha/EGF receptor mRNA expression was most intense in the parietal cell-enriched fraction (7.8-fold increase), but was also increased in the chief cell-enriched fraction (2.7-fold increase) relative to the unfractionated guinea pig gastric mucosa. We conclude that TGF alpha and TGF alpha/EGF receptor genes are expressed in normal adult mammalian gastric mucosa. These findings, when interpreted in light of described actions of TGF alpha and EGF, provide evidence that local production of TGF alpha could play an important role in the regulation of acid secretion and mucosal renewal in the stomach.

Papillary adenoma of the stomach. Pathologic and immunohistochemical study

A total of 13 gastric papillary adenomas composed of 8 papillary and 5 papillotubular adenomas were examined pathologically and immunohistochemically. They showed a dome-like or pedunculated appearance and were located at the antrum, except for one adenoma. Histologically, the adenoma cells showed atypia in varying degree and focal adenocarcinoma was noted in seven lesions. The number of goblet cells was apparently smaller in the papillary than in the tubular portion. Lysozyme was present at the supranuclear region in most papillary adenoma cells, whereas it was concentrated in Paneth's granules in tubular adenoma cells. No difference was found in the distribution and frequency of carcinoembryonic antigen, secretory component, and carbohydrate antigen CA 19-9 between papillary and tubular adenomas. Paucity of endocrine cells also characterized gastric papillary adenoma. Different phenotypic expressions might reflect the difference in histogenesis between papillary adenoma and tubular adenoma.

Comparison of serum assays for TAG-72, CA19-9 and CEA in gastrointestinal carcinoma patients

Tumor-associated glycoprotein (TAG-72) has been shown to be expressed in a wide variety of epithelial malignant tissues. We have investigated serum levels of TAG-72 antigen in patients with gastrointestinal cancer with a solid phase radioimmunometric assay (RIA), CA72-4, utilizing murine monoclonal antibodies CC49 and B72.3 which recognize the TAG-72 antigen. Elevated levels of serum TAG-72 antigen were found in 48% of 56 gastric carcinoma patients and 67% of 45 colorectal carcinoma patients. The serum concentrations of TAG-72 were compared to those of CA19-9 and CEA. The positive rates of CA19-9 in gastric carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma patients were 29% and 54%, and those of CEA were 52% and 60%, respectively. Elevated serum levels of TAG-72, CA19-9 and CEA were observed in 7%, 14% and 24%, respectively, of patients with benign disease, thus indicating a preferential expression of TAG-72, compared to CA19-9 and CEA, in gastrointestinal carcinoma patients versus in patients with benign disorder. A cocktail of CA72-4, CA19-9 and CEA RIAs increased positive rates to 68% in sera of gastric cancer patients and 84% in sera of colorectal cancer patients. Combination assays using CA72-4, CEA and CA19-9 RIAs for patients with benign gastrointestinal disorder, however, also increased the positive rate to 31%. These results indicate that CA72-4, CA19-9 and CEA RIAs may be complementary in detecting circulating tumor-associated antigens. It must be emphasized, however, that interpretation of the data provided by the combination serum assays requires careful consideration.

Coexpression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain and PDGF receptor genes in human gastric carcinomas

In this study we examined the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) A-chain and PDGF receptor genes in seven human gastric carcinoma cell lines and 15 gastric carcinoma tissues. Expression of mRNA for PDGF A-chain was found in all gastric cell lines and all gastric carcinoma tissues. Two of the seven gastric carcinoma cell lines expressed PDGF receptor mRNA. Out of the 15 gastric carcinoma tissues, eight showed enhanced expression of PDGF receptor mRNA and all of them demonstrated prominent fibrous stroma. Moreover, the incidence of enhanced expression of PDGF receptor mRNA was higher in scirrhous carcinoma than in well differentiated adenocarcinoma. These results strongly suggest that PDGF produced by tumor cells acts as a paracrine growth factor for production of fibrous stroma in gastric carcinomas.

Correlation of DNA ploidy and clinical outcome in Borrmann type 4 gastric carcinoma

The correlation between DNA ploidy pattern and clinical outcome was studied in 76 patients with Borrmann type 4 gastric carcinomas. Twenty-six tumors were diploid, and 50 tumors were aneuploid. There was no correlation among DNA ploidy and histologic type, lymph-node status, wall invasion, or clinical stage. The incidence of vascular invasion in the aneuploid tumors was significantly higher than that in the diploid tumors. Five year survival was achieved in 28% of the patients with diploid tumors and 8% of those with aneuploid tumors, respectively. Among the patients undergoing curative resection, 5 year survival rate was 54% in the patients with diploid tumors compared to 28% with aneuploid tumors. There was a significant survival advantage in patients with diploid tumors. These results indicate that DNA ploidy might be an important prognostic factor in Borrmann type 4 gastric carcinomas.

[Nuclear DNA content of gastric cancer with biologically high malignancy]

Nuclear DNA content was microspectrophotometrically measured in 120 gastric cancer patients to assess the predominance of a particular DNA distribution pattern in gastric cancer with biologically high malignancy, such as the marked tendency for severe vessel invasion and remote metastasis, and for early recurrence after curative surgery. DNA distribution patterns were grouped into low and high ploidies, and the correlation between the DNA ploidy pattern and histopathologic, biologic findings was evaluated. The incidence of high DNA ploidy tended to be increased as the histological stage and level of infiltration progressed. On the other hand, the incidence of high DNA ploidy was higher in dead cases of early recurrence among cases of the same histological stage, or where vessel invasion and remote metastasis were severe among cases of the same depth of invasion. Therefore, we consider that the DNA distribution pattern well reflects the malignancy of gastric cancer.

Immunocytochemical detection of lactoferrin in human gastric carcinomas and adenomas

In gastric carcinomas, including 20 cases of intestinal type and 10 cases of diffuse type, in adenomas with mild to severe dysplasia (20 cases), and in hyperplastic polyps (10 cases), the presence of lactoferrin was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Incomplete or complete intestinal metaplasia or both and normal gastric mucosa were also tested. Preoperative hematocrit and serum iron levels (18 patients) were recorded. An evident reactivity for lactoferrin was encountered in intestinal type carcinomas, adenomas, and incomplete intestinal metaplasia, whereas diffuse-type carcinomas, hyperplastic polyps, and complete intestinal metaplasia were always unstained; mucous neck cells of the antrum and body were also positive for lactoferrin. The results are discussed in relation to the increased requirement of iron by neoplastic cells, although in gastric carcinomas serum iron levels appear to be unrelated to the immunohistochemical presence of lactoferrin.

[A clinicopathological study of early mucinous adenocarcinoma of the stomach]

From 1963 to 1986, 1126 cases (1300 lesions) of early gastric carcinoma were treated at Fukui Prefectural Hospital. Mucinous adenocarcinomas comprised 16 lesions in this series. These cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma were younger than all the other early carcinomas of the stomach and they often were locted in the lower third of the stomach. Macroscopically, most were types "Iia + IIc". Dividing them into 3 grouping: papillary, tubular, and signet ring cell types, depending on the microscopic appearance of the intramucosal carcinoma, the signet ring cell group differed from the other two as to age, macroscopic appearance, and region it occupied. An immunochemical study showed that CA19-9 stained positively in a mucous lake, much like a carcinoma cell, but that CEA stained little.

[Immunohistochemical study on the relationship between cancer cell growth and stroma changes of gastric carcinoma]

To elucidate the stromal characteristics in gastric carcinoma, the localization of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (PGs), fibronectin (FN), and type IV collagen was observed by immunohistochemical methods in 46 surgically resected stomachs including 41 carcinomas, 2 adenomas, and 3 ulcers. Chondroitin 4-sulfate PG revealed by 9A2 antibody and FN were distributed abundantly in the stroma of gastric carcinoma. On the other hand chondroitin 6-sulfate PG revealed by 3B3 antibody and type IV collagen were located more broadly in the stroma of undifferentiated carcinoma, especially scirrhous carcinoma than differentiated carcinoma. Type IV collagen was ultrastructurally localized around smooth muscle cells, myofibroblasts, and capillaries. And Bromodeoxyuridine was labelled in the stromal cells including endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells whose proliferative activities were suggested. In addition to carcinoma, muscularis mucosae of adenoma and ulcer were stained by 3B3 antibody. In gastric carcinoma, extracellular matrix was more strikingly distributed compared with noncarcinomatous region and in particular, stromal changes may be promoted by cancer cells in scirrhous carcinoma. These results suggest that specific stromal changes in gastric carcinoma may be related with the histologic types and growth patterns.