Relationship between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma, and the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.

Methods: 40 fresh tumor tissue specimens were taken from primary gastric cancer patients. Expression of P16 protein was detected by immunohistochemical method. Deletion and point mutation of p16 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, respectively.

Results: The frequency of loss of P16 protein expression in the gastric cancer tissue, adjacent nontumor tissue, and distal normal tissue was 77.5 % (31/40), 55.0 % (22/40), and 17.5 % (7/40), respectively (P<0.005). Homozygous deletion of exon 1 and exon 3 was observed in two and three cases, respectively, giving an overall frequency of homozygous deletion of 12.5 %. All five cases had diffuse type gastric carcinoma. No p16 gene point mutation was detected.

Conclusion: These findings suggest a close correlation between inactivation of p16 gene and gastric carcinoma. Further investigations are needed to testify the mechanism of inactivation of p16 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.