The expression of protein inhibitor of activated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 in the evolutionary process of gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To study the expression of PIAS3 (protein inhibitor of activated signal transducers and activators of transcription 3) in the evolutionary process of gastric cancer.

METHODS

Samples were taken from the endoscopic biopsy specimens of 125 patients. Gastric mucosal lesions were diagnosed in HE staining, and chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) with intestinal metaplasia (IM) were distinguished in AB-PAS and HID-AB staining. The expressions of PIAS3 gene in different types of gastric mucosal lesions were detected by immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. The results were analyzed using IPP 6.0 image analysis system, from which the average optical density was obtained of positive cells.

RESULTS

There were 25 patients with chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), 87 CAG (30 with complete intestinal IM, 27 with incomplete intestinal IM, 21 with complete colonic IM, 9 with incomplete colonic IM), 8 dysplasia (DYS) and 5 gastric cancer (GC). In the expressions of PIAS3 mRNA and protein, a difference was not found between the patients with CSG and those with CAG with complete or incomplete intestinal IM; however, a significant difference was statistically found among patients with CSG (or intestinal IM), complete colonic IM, incomplete colonic IM, DYS and GC, expression levels of which stepped down one by one.

CONCLUSIONS

There are differences in the PIAS3 expression from different stages of gastric precancerous conditions/lesions to GC, which may reveal a close relationship between expression reduction or loss of PIAS3 and gastric tumorigenesis.