Mucin phenotype and CDX2 expression as prognostic factors in gastric carcinomas

Background : Mucin phenotypic markers and CDX2 are widely expressed in gastric carcinomas, however, recent studies have produced conflicting results regarding whether the expression patterns of these markers have clinicopathologic significance. Methods : We examined samples from 217 gastric carcinoma patients immunohistochemically to determine if the expression of mucin phenotypic markers and CDX2 was correlated with postoperative survival and other clinicopathologic factors. Results : All tumors were phenotypically classified as gastric (type G, 81 cases), gastric and intestinal mixed (type GI, 55 cases), intestinal (type 1, 43 cases), or unclassified (type U, 38 cases). The occurrence of type G and GI tumors was positively correlated with tumor progression whereas that of type U tumors was negatively correlated with tumor progression. CDX2 expression was correlated with type I tumors. Tumors that expressed MUC5AC or MUC6 had a better prognosis than those that did not. When the relationship between phenotype and prognosis was considered, type GI had the best prognosis, followed by type G, then type U. Conclusions : The mucin phenotypic markers may be useful for predicting tumor progression and survival in patients with gastric carcinomas. Additionally, CDX2 may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis of type I tumors.