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Editorial
. 2010 Oct 7;16(37):4634-9.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i37.4634.

Mucin phenotype of gastric cancer and clinicopathology of gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma

Tsutomu Namikawa, Kazuhiro Hanazaki
Editorial

Mucin phenotype of gastric cancer and clinicopathology of gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma

Tsutomu Namikawa et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Differentiated adenocarcinoma of the stomach is classified into gastric or intestinal phenotypes based on mucus expression. Recent advances in mucin histochemistry and immunohistochemistry have highlighted the importance of such a distinction, and it is important clinically to distinguish between gastric- and intestinal-type differentiated adenocarcinoma. However, a clinical and pathological diagnosis of this type is often difficult in early gastric cancer because of histological similarities between a hyperplastic epithelium and low-grade atypia. Furthermore, determining tumor margins is often difficult, even with extensive preoperative examination. It is therefore critical to consider these diagnostic difficulties and different biological behaviors with high malignant potential when treating patients with gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of gastric cancer based on mucous expression. A: Classification of gastric cancer according to the phenotypic combination of mucin expression; B: Classification of gastric cancer by mucin-expression phenotype according to the type of intestinal metaplasia. HGM: Human gastric mucin.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Complete intestinal-type differentiated adenocarcinoma. A: Macroscopic appearance showing a slightly elevated granular lesion with a distinct margin; B: Well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (HE staining); C: No staining of MUC5AC was found in the carcinomatous gland; D: Positive staining of CD10 was apparent on the luminal side of the carcinomatous gland.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Gastric-type differentiated adenocarcinoma. A: Macroscopic appearance, showing a fine-granule aggregated lesion; B: Well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma (HE staining); C: Diffuse positive staining of MUC5AC was apparent in the carcinomatous gland; D: No staining of MUC2 was evident.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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