Diffuse and intestinal type gastric carcinomas differ in their expression of apoptosis related proteins.

BACKGROUND Gastric carcinomas can be divided into intestinal and diffuse types, with the last type having a worse prognosis. AIMS To investigate whether specific patterns in the expression of apoptosis related proteins correlate with carcinoma type and/or prognosis METHODS The expression of Fas, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-xl, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was studied immunohistochemically and the extent of apoptosis and proliferation was investigated in 11 cases of intestinal type and in eight cases of diffuse type carcinoma. RESULTS Fas was expressed in all intestinal type and in one diffuse type carcinoma. Bcl-xl was expressed in 10 of 11 intestinal type and in one of eight diffuse type carcinomas. Bcl-2 was expressed in lamina propria immune cells. iNOS was expressed in six of 11 intestinal type and in four of eight diffuse type carcinomas, and COX-2 was expressed in eight of 11 intestinal type and in six of eight diffuse type carcinomas. CONCLUSION Fas and Bcl-xl expression can differentiate between intestinal type and diffuse type gastric carcinomas. No differences in apoptosis and proliferation between intestinal type and diffuse type gastric carcinomas were observed.