Immunohistochemical Expression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Markers in Early Gastric Cancer: Cancer Tissue versus Noncancer Tissue

Background/Aims: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental process, wherein the epithelial cells show reduced intercellular adhesions and acquire migratory fibroblastic properties. EMT is associated with downregulation in epithelial marker expression, abnormal translocation of E-cadherin, and upregulation in mesenchymal marker expression. Here, we investigated the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of EMT markers in early gastric cancer (EGC) between cancer and noncancer tissues. Methods: Tissue samples were prospectively obtained from 19 patients with EGC that underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We compared the expression level of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), E-cadherin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and vimentin between cancer and noncancer tissues using IHC Among the 19 patients, 15 patients had follow-up biopsy at 3 months after ESD for EGC. Results: Cancer tissues presented higher values of EMT mesenchymal markers (alpha-SMA/vimentin/TGF-beta/VEGF) than the noncancerous tissues (p<0.05) that were significantly low after ESD (p<0.05). No significant correlation was reported for tumor location and initial Helicobacter pylori infection. Conclusions: The mesenchymal expression of EMT markers was higher in the cancerous tissues than in the noncancer tissues.