Histological diversity and molecular characteristics in gastric cancer: relation of cancer stem cell-related molecules and receptor tyrosine kinase molecules to mixed histological type and more histological patterns

• Published in: Gastric cancer : official journal of the International Gastric Cancer Association and the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 368 - 381
• Main Authors: Sentani, Kazuhiro, Imai, Takeharu, Kobayashi, Go, Hayashi, Tetsutaro, Sasaki, Naomi, Oue, Naohide, Yasui, Wataru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.03.2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdominal Surgery; Aged; c-Met protein; Cancer; Cancer Research; CD44 antigen; Diagnosis; E-cadherin; Epidermal growth factor receptors; ErbB-2 protein; Female; Gastric cancer; Gastric Mucosa - metabolism; Gastric Mucosa - pathology; Gastroenterology; Genomic instability; Helicobacter Infections - complications; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Invasiveness; Laminin; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Mucosa; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Neoplastic Stem Cells - metabolism; Oncology; Original Article; Protein-tyrosine kinase receptors; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - metabolism; Stem cells; Stomach Neoplasms - metabolism; Stomach Neoplasms - microbiology; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Surgical Oncology; Tumors; Receptor tyrosine kinase molecule; Molecular characteristic; Stem cell-related molecule; Gastric cancer; Histological diversity
• ISSN: 1436-3291; 1436-3305
• DOI: 10.1007/s10120-020-01133-w

Background Gastric cancers (GCs) are still one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. The histological and molecular features of GC may differ widely from area to area within the same tumor. Intratumoral heterogeneity has been considered a major obstacle to an efficient diagnosis and successful molecular treatment. Methods We selected and reevaluated 842 GC cases and analyzed the relationship between numbers or composites of histological patterns within tumors, and clinicopathological parameters in mucosal and invasive areas. In addition, we searched for the GC-associated molecules or molecular subtypes marking histological diversities. Results GC cases with more histological numbers or mixed types in invasive areas showed significantly higher T grade and staging, whereas those in mucosal areas did not show any significant associations. GCs with histological diversities showed poorer prognosis and characteristically expressed cancer stem cell-related molecules (CD44, CD133 or ALDH1) and receptor tyrosine kinase molecules (HER2, EGFR or c-MET) as well as Helicobacter pylori infection. Expressions of CD44, HER2, c-MET, laminin 5·2 or retained E-cadherin in mucosal areas were predictive of more histological numbers and mixed types in invasive areas. In addition, the chromosomal instability subtype of GC showed significant associations with more histological numbers and mixed histological type, whereas the genomic stability subtype of GC showed a significant relationship with pure type. Conclusions We displayed the relationship between histological diversity and molecular features in GC, and we hope that the present data can contribute to the early diagnosis and prevention, and effective treatment of GC.