[The relationship between Helicobacter pylori and expression of c-met oncogene in gastric precancerous lesions].

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether there is a relationship between the presence of H. pylori and alteration of c-met oncogene and to estimate the role of H. pylori in the development of gastric carcinoma.

METHODS

110 patients with histopathologically proven chronic gastritis were studied. We demonstrated expression and overexpression rates of c-met oncogene by using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

For chronic superficial gastritis, chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal mataplasia and dysplasia, the expression rates were 22.2%, 44.1%, 67.5% and 61.9%. The overexpression rates were 5.5%, 26.4%, 37.8% and 38.1% respectively. The positive rates of c-met oncogene protein were high among patients infected with H. pylori than those with no H. pylori infection (63% vs 32%). In the precancerous lesions of cellular atrophy, intestinal mataplasia and dysplasia, the expression rates of H. pylori positive patients were higher (68.9%) than those of H. pylori negative patients (30.5%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori is involved in the expression of c-met oncogene.