The distribution and intracellular location of Fas and Fas Ligand following gastric carcinogenesis: Fas Ligand expressing gastric carcinoma cells can inhibit local immune response

High Fas expression in gastric carcinoma cells as a factor correlating with the occurrence of metastases to regional lymph nodes

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation of the expression of Fas and Fas-L proteins in gastric carcinoma cells on the occurrence of metastases to regional lymph nodes.

MATERIAL/METHODS

The study included 89 patients treated surgically for gastric carcinoma. The evaluated clinicomorphological parameters were verified based on both histopathological material collected at surgery and intraoperative image. Fas and Fas-L expression was evaluated immunohistochemically in the neoplastic tissue of the removed gastric tumors.

RESULTS

A statistically significant positive correlation between Fas expression in gastric carcinoma cells and the number of regional lymph nodes affected by metastases was observed (p<0.05). No such correlation was noticed with respect to Fas-L. A statistically significant correlation between the depth of neoplastic infiltration of the stomach wall (T feature) and the number of affected lymph nodes was observed (p<0.05). No statistically significant correlations in the other examined clinicomorphological features and the number of metastatic lymph nodes was observed.

CONCLUSION

A positive Fas expression correlates with more frequent occurrence of metastases to regional lymph nodes. Determination of this protein expression in cancer cells prior to surgery may be helpful for planning the surgical procedure, especially with respect to the extent of lymph node excision.