ObjectiveTo determine the expressions of Lgr5 protein and Ki-67 protein in gastric cancer tissues, and to analyze the possible function in the carcinogenesis and development of gastric cancer.MethodsThe SABC immunohistochemical method was adopted to examine the expressions of Lgr5 protein and Ki-67 protein in the 69 paraffin slices of gastric cancer from the patients, with the adjacent normal gastric tissue as the control group. The statistical relationship between the expressions of these two kinds of proteins and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer was examined respectively.ResultsIn the gastric cancer tissue group, the expressions of Lgr5 protein and Ki-67 protein upregulated in comparison to the adjacent normal gastric tissue group [Lgr5 protein: 87.0% (60/69) versus 16.7% (5/30), χ2=45.81, P<0.001; Ki-67 protein: 79.7% (55/69) versus 36.7% (11/30), χ2=17.43, P<0.001]. The expressions of Lgr5 protein and Ki-67 protein all upregulated in the N1–N3 stage groups, lowly differentiated+undifferentiated groups and positive Helicobacter pylori (HP) groups. The expression of Lgr5 protein upregulated in the T3+T4 stage groups in comparison to T1+T2 stage groups, while, no significant relationship was found in the expression of Ki-67 protein and tumor T staging. No significant relationship was found between the gender or metastasis and the expression of these two proteins. There was a positive correlation between the Lgr5 protein expression and the Ki-67 protein expression in the gastric cancer (rs=0.340, P=0.004).ConclusionsIn the development progress of gastric cancer, the Lgr5 protein might get involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion, lymph nodal metastasis, and low differentiation. Ki-67 protein might get involved in the mechanism of lymph nodal metastasis and low differentiation. The two proteins, together with the HP infection, might play a synergistic role in tumorigenesis and development.
ObjectiveTo detect expressions of Lgr5 and E-cadherin (E-cad) proteins in gastric cancer tissues and analyze their relationships with the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.MethodsThe expressions of Lgr5 and E-cad proteins in the 69 patients with gastric cancer and adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues were measured by the immunohistochemical SABC method, and the relationships between the Lgr5 or E-cad protein expression in the gastric cancer tissues and the clinicopathologic characteristics and the survival of patients with gastric cancer were analyzed.ResultsThe expressions of Lgr5 and E-cad proteins were positive in 60 cases (87.0%) and 30 cases (43.5%) of gastric cancer tissues, respectively, and in 5 cases (16.7%) and 30 cases (100%) of adjacent normal gastric mucosa tissues. There was a significant difference in the positive rate of Lgr5 or E-cad protein expression in the different tissues, respectively (Lgr5 protein: χ2=45.814, P<0.001; E-cad protein: χ2=11.249, P=0.001). The positive rates of Lgr5 and E-cad protein expressions in the gastric cancer were related to the degree of differentiation and the depth of invasion. Meanwhile the positive rate of Lgr5 protein expression in the gastric cancer tissue was also related to the lymph node metastasis and Helicobacter pylori infection, while the positive rate of E-cad protein expression was not related to these (P>0.05). The 5-year total survival time had no significant difference in the patients between with positive and with negative expressions of Lgr5 protein (χ2=1.819, P=0.117), which had a significant difference in the patients between with positive and with negative expressions of E-cad protein (χ2=5.814, P=0.016). The positive expression of Lgr5 was negatively correlated with that of E-cad (rs=−0.355, P=0.003).ConclusionsLgr5 protein may get involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion, lymph nodal metastasis, and low differentiation, while no relationship between the Lgr5 protein and prognosis has been confirmed. E-cad protein may get involved in the mechanism of tumor invasion and affect the prognosis of patients.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of Lgr5 protein in regeneration tissue of remnant liver after associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) and its significance.MethodsA total of 120 male SD rats (200–240 g) were randomly equally divided into sham operation (SO) group, portal vein ligation (PVL) group, and ALPPS group using random number table method. The liver regeneration rate (LRR), liver function (AST and ALT), and the expressions of Ki-67 and Lgr5 in the right middle lobe of the liver were observed at day 1, 2, 4, and 7 after surgery.ResultsCompared with SO group, the LRRs and the Ki-67 protein expression positive rates and Lgr5 related protein expression levels in the right middle lobe of liver tissue were increased in the PVL group and ALPPS group at day 1, 2, and 4 after surgery (P<0.05), and the LRR was still increased at day 7 after surgery (P<0.05). The LRRs at day 4 and 7 after surgery in the ALPPS group were higher than those in the PVL group (P<0.05), the Ki-67 protein expression positive rates and Lgr5 related protein expression levels at day 2 and 4 after surgery in the ALPPS group were higher than those in the PVL group (P<0.05). The AST and ALT levels at day 1 and 2 after surgery in the ALPPS group and PVL group were higher than those in the SO group (P<0.05), which at day 1 after surgery in the ALPPS group were higher than those in the PVL group (P<0.05), but which returned to normal on day 4 after surgery.ConclusionsALPPS could promote liver regeneration better. Lgr5 is closely related to liver regeneration after ALPPS. Liver stem cells might be involved in liver regeneration after ALPPS.