p120cas is involved in signal transduction upon src or
growth factor stimulation as well as in
E-cadherin mediated cell adhesion and may play an important role in
carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluated immunohistochemically the expression and cellular localization of
p120cas in 40 gastric, 43 colorectal and 20
pancreatic carcinomas, and examined the relationship between
p120cas expression and pathological features. Altered
p120cas expression was observed in 70%, 65% and 60% of gastric, colorectal and
pancreatic cancers, respectively. The most common abnormality was of cytoplasmic expression associated with loss of membranous distribution found in 37% of gastric, in 25% of colorectal and in 25% of
pancreatic cancers. Heterogeneous staining was noted in 15%, 19% and 20%, and complete loss of expression in 18%, 21% and 15% of gastric, colorectal and
pancreatic cancers, respectively. There was no correlation between
p120cas staining pattern and tumour grade or stage. Aberrant expression of
p120cas which may reflect changes in signal transduction pathways occurs frequently in human
malignancies.