Curr Health Sci J, vol. 48, no. 4, 2022

Immunoexpression of Claudin 4 in Gastric Adenocarcinomas

[Original Paper]

O.I. Cretu(1), M.D. Stepan(2), M.M. Florescu(3), A.E. Stepan(3)


(1)PhD Student, Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania,
(2)Department of Infant Care-Pediatrics-Neonatology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova,
(3)Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania


Abstract:

Disturbance of the intercellular adhesion system represents a basic biomolecular mechanism in gastric carcinogenesis. Claudin 4 is member of a protein family involved in maintaining homeostasis and epithelial integrity. In this study, we analyzed the immunoexpression of Claudin 4 in 58 cases of gastric adenocarcinomas, in relation to the main histopathological parameters of aggressiveness, the reactions obtained being evaluated through the intensity of the reactions and the number of positive cells. Positive membranous reactions of Claudin 4 were observed in all cases, in tumor cells and some stromal elements, but in some high grade gastric adenocarcinomas also cytoplasmic immunostaining was present. Claudin 4 high scores were associated with tubular, tubulopapillary and hepatoid adenocarcinomas, of low grade and in early stages, aspects that suggest the usefulness of the marker in evaluating the aggressiveness of gastric epithelial tumors.


Keywords:
Gastric adenocarcinomas, Claudin 4, histopathological parameters.



Corresponding:
Mirela Marinela Florescu, Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 66 1 May Avenue, 200628 Craiova, Romania, e-mail: mirelaflorescu88@gmail.com, Mioara Desdemona Stepan, Department of Infant Care-Pediatrics-Neonatology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, No. 2, Petru Rare Avenue, 200628 Craiova, Romania, e-mail: dstepan80@yahoo.com


DOI 10.12865/CHSJ.48.04.02 - Download PDF