Expression of epithelial cellular adhesion molecule in gastric cancer:A meta-analysis

AIM： To obtain an accurate evaluation of the association between high expression of epithelial cellular adhesion molecule （EpCAM） and gastric cancer （GC） risk.METHODS： Studies that had examined the association between high expression of EpCAM and GC risk were identified by searching electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library and Chinese Biomedical Literature database. Risk ratios （RRs） together with their 95%CIs were used to assess the association between high expression of EpCAM and GC risk. We selected eligible studies based on inclusion criteria. RevMan 5.3 software was used to calculate the pooled values.RESULTS： A total of 14 studies were included in this meta-analysis. EpCAM-positive cases were signifcantly associated with tumor size （RR： 1.68, 95%CI： 1.47-1.91, P 〈 0.00001 fxed-effect）, depth of invasion （RR： 1.37, 95%CI： 1.11-1.68, P = 0.003 random-effect）, TNM stage （RR： 2.02, 95%CI： 1.35-3.02, P = 0.0007 random-effect）, tumor location （RR： 0.80, 95%CI： 0.71-0.91, P = 0.0007 fxed-effect）, histologic differentiation （RR： 1.23, 95%CI： 1.13-1.33, P 〈 0.00001 fxed-effect） and lymph node metastasis （RR： 1.89, 95%CI： 1.28-2.80, P = 0.001 random-effect）. However, we did not observe any significant association between the presence of EpCAM with age, gender, distant metastasis, Borrmann type or Lauren classification. Additionally, EpCAM expression was not associated with the overall survival rate. The pooled HR of the overall effect was 1.39（95%CI： 0.30-6.48, P = 0.67 random-effect）.CONCLUSION： Our meta-analysis indicates that EpCAM contributes to GC risk, which acts as a prognostic factor and a marker of poor outcome.

Changes of ECM and CAM gene expression profile in the cirrhotic liver after HCV infection: Analysis by cDNA expression array

AIM: We aimed to observe the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) in cirrhotic liver tissues after hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: Twelve patients with post HCV inflammatory liver cirrhosis were selected to evaluate their liver function and other virological, pathological parameters. Then three specimens of cirrhotic patients whose health assessment results and laboratory data were similar and three normal liver specimens explanted from liver grafts prepared for liver transplantation were chosen for investigating gene expression of ECM and CAM using cDNA expression array. RESULTS: The cDNA array assay revealed 36.7% (36/96)of genes with changes, in which 26.3% (26/96) was up regulated and 10.1% (10/96) was down-regulated. Integrin (ITGA), collagen (COL), ADAMTS were identified as the characteristic changes of ECM and CAM gene expression levels. ITGA were demonstrated β1 and β2 sub-section changed in liver cirrhosis.CONCLUSION: ECM and CAM play an important role inthe progression of liver cirrhosis after HCV infection. The capital mechanism is related to the inflammatory cellsinfiltration, the activation and transformation of ECM producing cells and the imbalance between production and elimination of ECM.