Objective: To explore the relationship between expressions of apoptosis-related protein Bax, Survivin and p53 and the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma. Methods: Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were used in this study. Results: The positive rate of Bax protein in gastric cancer (17.7%,17/96) was significantly lower than those in adjacent normal mucosa (51%), intestinal metaplasia (69.2%) and dysplasia (75%), P < 0.01. The positive rate of Survivin expression in gastric cancer (80.6%, 89/98) was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal mucosa (3.9%), P < 0.01. The positive rates of Survivin expression in tumors with different organ metastases (in lymph node metastasis 86.2%, liver 100% and ovarian 100%) were statistically higher than in tumors without metastasis (64.3%), P < 0.05. Bax expression was correlated with Survivin but not with mp53 that was closely related to Survivin expression (P < 0.05) in gastric cancer. Conclusion: The abnormal expressions of Bax, Survivin and mp53 were correlated with the tumorigenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma. P53 and Survivin genes may share the similar mechanism in regulating cell apoptosis, and because of the mutation, p53 gene may lower its down-regulation to Survivin expression.
Yuping Xiao Zhi Lin Lili Mao Dongying Wu Yujia Gao Hongwei Sun Yan Xin
