Purpose: Since syndecan-1 is an adhesion molecule involved in tumor invasion and metastasis, we evaluated the relationship between syndecan-1 expression and histopathological features of gastric carcinomas.
Methods: Syndecan-1 expression was evaluated in 104 gastric carcinomas using immunohistochemistry.
Results: High, moderate and low syndecan-1 expression in carcinoma cells was observed in 17/104, 25/104 and 62/104 cases, respectively. High, moderate and low syndecan-1 expression in stromal cells was observed in 5/104, 22/104 and 77/104 cases, respectively. Low epithelial syndecan-1 expression was significantly associated with increased depth of invasion (p=0.034) and lymph vessel invasion (p=0.035). Low stromal syndecan-1 expression was significantly associated with histologic type (intestinal vs diffuse/mixed; p=0.04), increased histologic grade (p=0.04) and large tumor size (p=0.026).
Conclusion: Low levels of tumor and stromal syndecan- 1 expression were associated with adverse histopathological parameters in gastric carcinoma. This suggests that syndecan-1 expression may be helpful for assessing the aggressiveness of gastric carcinomas.