Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of caudal type transcription factor-2 (Cdx2) in gastric mucosa at different stages of carcinogenesis.
Methods: By using ABC immunohistochemistry, the expression of Cdx2 was detected in the biopsy specimens of 104 cases of chronic superficial gastritis, 98 cases of chronic atrophic gastritis, 112 cases of intestinal metaplasia, 106 cases of dysplasia and 97 cases of intestinal-type gastric carcinoma.
Results: Cdx2 was expressed in the specimens of intestinal metaplasia with an expression rate of 86.6% (97/112), significantly higher than those in dysplasia (58.5%, 62/106) and intestinal-type gastric carcinoma (56.9%, 53/93) (both P < 0.01), while was not expressed in the specimens of chronic superficial gastritis and chronic atrophic gastritis. No significant difference was found between the expression rate of Cdx2 was between the specimens of dysplasia and those of intestinal-type gastric carcinoma (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Cdx2 may be a novel marker of intestinal metaplasia and may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of the intestinal-type gastric carcinoma.