Loss of heterozygosity and loss of expression of the DCC gene in gastric cancer.

AIM To investigate the role of DCC gene inactivation in the development and progression of gastric cancer. METHODS Loss of heterozygosity and loss of expression of the DCC gene was studied in 51 surgical specimens of gastric cancer using detection based on polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Loss of heterozygosity was found in 35.3% (18 of 51) of specimens and was detected more often in stage III and IV (50%) than in stage I and II cancers (14.3%) (p < 0.05). Occurrence of loss of heterozygosity was not correlated with histological type, tumour size, depth of invasion, or lymph node metastasis. Loss of expression was found in 49% of cases (25 of 51). Loss of expression was not significantly correlated with any clinicopathological variable. CONCLUSIONS Loss of heterozygosity and loss of expression of the DCC gene are often encountered in gastric cancer. Loss of heterozygosity of the DCC gene is a late event and associated with malignant progression.