Background: The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene, located on the human chromosome 3p14.2, is frequently inactivated by its deletion in a number of human tumors, including gastric carcinomas. Its protein product, FHIT is presumed to have a tumor suppressor function. p21, one of the tumor markers acts as a regulator of the cell cycle, and inhibits cell proliferation.
Methods: The association of the expressions of FHIT and p21 protein, with clinicopathological features, such as age, gender, tumor size, histological type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic and vascular invasion, grade and stage were investigated, and correlation of their expressions with p21 expression in 82 gastric adenocarcinomas attempted by immunohistochemical staining.
Results: Of the 82 tumors analyzed, 58 (70.7%) were markedly reduced, or completely negative, for FHIT protein expression. The loss of FHIT expression was correlated with the depth of invasion (p=0.000), lymph node metastasis (p=0.001), lymphatic invasion (p=0.000), histological grade (p=0.000) and tumor stage (p=0.000). The loss of p21 expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.026) and lymphatic invasion (p= 0.017), but not with the histological grade and tumor stage. The comparison of the FHIT and p21 protein expressions showed significant correlation (p=0.035).
Conclusions: The loss of FHIT and p21 expressions may be a useful indicator of the post diagnostic prognosis. Also, FHIT could be related to cell cycle arrest.
|