CORRELATION OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION OF BETA-CATENIN AND C-MYC WITH AGGRESSIVITY IN GASTRIC TUMORS

Abstract

– Background: Biomarkers are macromolecules present in the body that may be related to neoplastic cells. None of them for diagnosis for secondary prevention were defined for gastric cancer. Objective: To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of beta-catenin and c-MYC proteins in gastric cancer and to correlate them with the aggressiveness of gastric tumors. Method: The sample consisted of histopathological slides, stained by H&E and paraffin blocks, and immunostained. Retrospective clinical data were collected. Clinical and epidemiological information was cross-referenced with the result obtained by immunostaining and its statistical analysis. Results: There was a predominance of men (69.1%), with a mean age of 63.8 years, with a predominance of lesions located in the antrum (54.5%), poorly differentiated (49.1%) with signet ring cells in 30 % of cases. On average, 18 lymph nodes were resected and in 30% no affected lymph nodes were detected. In 42.7% there was already distant metastasis, predominantly liver (61.7%). Stage IV was the classification of 43.6%, not being detected angiolymphatic invasion in 77.3% and perineural in 65.5%. Treatment was surgical and chemotherapy in 87.3%, with R0 resection in 79.1%. c-MYC was negative in 99.1% and beta-catenin was not expressed in 90.9%, being inconclusive in 6 cases. Conclusion: The immunohistochemical expression of these proteins in tissues with gastric cancer was not observed. The analyzed biomarkers, c-MYC and beta-catenin, showed no association with tumor aggressiveness in this cancer