Pathological and molecular characterization of gastric cancer with aggressive phenotype

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K08340
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Human pathology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Ushiku Tetsuo 東京大学, 大学院医学系研究科(医学部), 准教授 (60376415)
• Research Collaborator: YAMAZAWA Sho ; TANAKA Atsushi
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 胃癌 / 胎児形質 / びまん型胃癌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We analyzed the expression of phenotypic markers characterizing primitive cells and its correlation with clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics in a series of gastric cancer (n = 386). On the basis of the expression profiles, 20% of tumors were identified as gastric cancer with primitive phenotype, and were characterized by intestinal type histology including AFP-producing adenocarcioma, frequent vascular invasion and nodal metastasis. This subgroup was associated with patients’ poor prognosis and was an independent risk factor for disease-free survival. In terms of molecular alteration, they showed frequent TP53 alterations and little association with Epstein-Barr virus or microsatellite instability, and were mostly classified as “chromosomal instability” subtype in the Cancer Genome Atlas’ molecular classification. We also clarified clinicopathological characteristics of diffuse type gastric cancer with RHOA mutation.

Free Research Field

消化管病理学