위암 조직에서 Integrin α5, α6, αV, β1, β3, β4 아단위의 발현

Abstract

Background/Aims: The integrins play a central role in maintaining the morphology of cell and tissue, growth, differentiation, migration, survival and apoptosis of cells, and angiogenesis. Although integrins are implicated in carcinogenesis and tumor angiogenesis, their precise contributions to the process are largely unknown. Methods: For paraffin embedded tissue samples of 102 gastric cancers (23 differentiated, 79 undifferentiated), the expression of integrin α5, α6, αV, β1, β3, β4 subunits and factor VIII were examined by immunohistochemical staining. The relationships between the expression of each integrin and several clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed. Results: The positive rates of integrins were as follows: α5 24%, β1 8%, α6 16%, β4 24%, αV 29%, and β3 34%. The expression of α5, α6, and αV was well correlated with the expression of β1, β4, and β3, respectively. The αV integrin was highly expressed in tumors of advanced T stage. The expressions of α6 and β4 integrins were significantly higher in differentiated tumors, but the β3 integrin was significantly expressed in undifferentiated tumors. The number of tumor vessels has positive correlation with αV integrin expression. Conclusions: These findings suggest that integrin α6β4 is one of the key factors in determining tumor differentiation and growth pattern. The integrin αVβ3 may be related to the angiogenesis especially in advanced gastric cancer.