CDX2 Expression in Gastric Carcinoma: A Clinicopathological Study

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer accounts for 7.8% of cancers worldwide and adenocarcinoma is the commonest histological type. Both gastric and intestinal phenotypic cell markers are expressed in gastric carcinomas. CDX2 is an intestinal transcription factor, which can be demonstrated in intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinomas of the intestinal type. Unlike colorectal carcinomas, the role of CDX2 in gastric carcinomas as a prognostic variable is yet to be established. Ki-67 is a transcription factor expressed in the growth and synthetic phases of the cell cycle. Aims and Objectives: The aims of the study were to analyze CDX2 expression and Ki-67 labeling index in different histological types of gastric carcinomas and their relationship with the patients' clinicopathological parameters. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 gastric carcinoma cases were evaluated histologically and phenotypically, along with assessment of CDX2 expression and Ki-67 labeling index. Gastric carcinomas were grouped into intestinal and diffuse types, according to Lauren classification. A semiquantitative microscopic evaluation of CDX2 expression and Ki-67 labeling index was performed and correlated with the patients' clinicopathological parameters. Results: Increased CDX2 expression correlated with higher proportion of intestinal type gastric carcinomas and a lower proportion of lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular and perineural invasion. On the other hand, high Ki-67 labeling index was found in high grade tumors with lymphovascular invasion. Conclusions: The results of our study suggest that CDX2 might be a useful marker in predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric carcinoma. Accordingly, Ki-67 index seems to be useful in identifying a group of patients with aggressive tumors.

Keywords

Adenocarcinoma - CDX2 - gastric carcinoma - Ki-67

Introduction

Gastric carcinomas are malignant epithelial neoplasms of the stomach which accounts for 7.8% of cancers worldwide.[1] They represent a biologically and genetically heterogeneous group of tumors with multifactorial etiologies, both environmental and genetic.[1],[2] Still widely used, Lauren classification divides gastric cancer into two major histological types – intestinal and diffuse on the basis of microscopic configuration and growth pattern.[3] Intestinal type carcinomas form glands with various degrees of differentiation while diffuse carcinomas consist of poorly cohesive cells with little or no gland formation.[4]

Precursor lesions of gastric carcinomas include gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. Both autoimmune gastritis and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastritis are associated with the development of intestinal metaplasia in the stomach and an increased risk of developing gastric carcinoma, mostly of intestinal type.[1]

CDX-2 is a caudal-related homeobox transcription factor whose expression in the adult is normally restricted to the intestinal epithelium. It is implicated in the development and maintenance of intestinal mucosa.[5] Highest levels of CDX-2 mRNA are found in the caecum and colon with lower levels in other tracts of the intestine but there is a lack of expression in the stomach.[6] Its role as a prognostic marker in colorectal carcinomas is well known whereas its role in the outcome of gastric carcinomas is not yet established. Gastric mucosa exhibiting intestinal metaplasia show CDX2 immunoreactivity in about 90% of cases, as compared to gastric carcinomas which show immunoreactivity in only 50% of the cases.[7],[8] Differentiated adenocarcinomas are characterized by a higher CDX2 expression than undifferentiated tumors, with a stronger reactivity in the intestinal phenotypes. Recent studies report an inverse correlation between CDX2 expression and the depth of invasion as well as lymph node metastasis.[8],[9] Ki-67 is a nuclear proliferation-associated antigen expressed in the growth and synthetic phases of the cell cycle, thereby providing a direct measure of the growth fraction of the tissue.[10]

In the present study, we analyze the CDX2 expression and Ki-67 labeling index in different histological types of gastric carcinomas along with the correlation of the staining results with the patients' clinicopathological parameters.

Materials and Methods

Case selection and tissue samples

The present study was done over a period of one and half years between April 2013 and October 2014. It is a hospital-based observational study with cross-sectional type of study design. The study comprised of fifty patients who underwent total or partial gastrectomy between 2012 and 2014. The demographic details and clinical history of the patients were collected. Patients who died within 4 weeks after the surgical intervention were excluded from the study.

Tissue preparation

Gross examination of the surgically removed specimen was done, followed by grossing and block preparation for routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. Two additional sets of slides were prepared from each block for CDX2 and Ki-67 immunostaining, respectively. Histopathological findings included histological type and differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node status, and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and perineural invasion (PNI).

Immunohistochemistry

For immunohistochemistry, antigen retrieval was done with citrate buffer by microwaving (800 watt, 2 cycles of 5 min each followed by 600 watt, 1 cycle for 5 min). The slides were cooled to room temperature for 20 min. The slides are then washed in Tris-buffer, thrice for 5 min each. Endogenous peroxide activity was blocked by 0.3%. Hydrogen peroxidase in methanol. After washing once with water and twice with Tris-buffered saline (pH 7.6), incubation with primary monoclonal antibodies directed against CDX2 (Cell Marque, Rocklin, CA, USA) and Ki-67 (Dako, Glostrop, Denmark) was done for 60 min. The slides were then washed with Tris-buffer twice for 5 min each and the secondary or link antibody was applied. Horseradish peroxide polymer was added and incubated for 30 min at room temperature. Finally, the chromogen diaminobenzidine (DAKO) was added and incubated for 10 min followed by washing in tap water for 3 min. Counterstaining with hematoxylin and mounting concluded the immunohistochemical staining procedure.

For CDX2, a semiquantitative microscopic evaluation was performed by two pathologists independently. Nuclear staining was scored according to the percentage of positive tumor cells as follows – Score 0: 0%–5% positive tumor cells; Score 1: >5%–35% positive tumor cells; Score 2: >35%–65% positive tumor cells; and Score 3: >65% positive tumor cells. Cases with score 0 were regarded as negative.

For Ki-67, a positive immunoreaction was considered for any degree of nuclear staining, and the cases were classified into two categories – Low Ki-67 index (<20% staining) and high Ki-67 index (>20% staining).

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was done in Excel spread sheet. Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher exact test was done to study the correlation of different parameters. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The study comprised of a total of 50 cases of gastric carcinomas, which included 31 males and 19 females with a mean age of 51.2 years (ranging from 25 to 70 years). The majority of patients had a nonvegetarian dietary habit (41 cases, 82.0%). Among the cases, 33 cases (66.0%) were smokers.

Histologically, the gastric carcinomas were classified into intestinal and diffuse types, according to the Lauren classification. The intestinal type carcinomas were further graded histologically into well, moderate, and poorly differentiated forms based on the percentage of glandular differentiation. Twenty-two cases were of diffuse phenotype. Among the 28 cases of intestinal type, most of the cases were moderately differentiated (14 cases, 50.0%). In total, 31 cases had an invasion up to the serosal layer, out of which most were of the diffuse phenotype (18 cases, 58.06%). LVI and PNIs were present in 17 cases of diffuse type (77.27%). Among the intestinal type tumors, 11 cases (39.28%) showed LVI and 8 cases (28.57%) showed PNI. Overall, 27 cases showed lymph node involvement among which 17 cases (34.0%) were of diffuse type and 10 cases of intestinal type (20.0%).

The clinicopathological parameters have been summarized in [Table 1].

Table 1

Clinicopathological parameters used in the study (n=50)

Parameter	Number of cases, n (%)
	Demographic parameters
LVI – Lymphovascular invasion; PNI – Perineural invasion
Age (years)
21-30	3 (06.0)
31-40	6 (12.0)
41-50	16 (32.0)
51-60	17 (34.0)
61-70	8 (16.0)
Mean age Sex	52.16
Males	31 (62.0)
Females	19 (38.0)
Dietary habits
Purely vegetarian	9 (18.0)
Nonvegetarian
Smoking	41 (82.0)
Smokers	33 (66.0)
Nonsmokers	17 (34.0)
	Histopathological parameters
Histologic type and grade
Diffuse	22 (44.0)
Intestinal	28 (56.0)
Well
differentiated	6 (12.0)
Moderately
differentiated	14 (28.0)
Poorly
differentiated	8 (16.0)
	Diffuse		Intestinal
Depth of invasion
Lamina propria	1 (2.0)		4 (8.0)
Submucosa	1 (2.0)		3 (6.0)
Muscularis propria	3 (6.0)		8 (16.0)
Serosa	17 (34.0)		13 (26.0)
	Present	Absent	Present	Absent
LVI 17	(34.0)	5 (10)	11 (22.0)	17 (34.0)
PNI 17	(34.0)	5 (10.0)	8 (16.0)	20 (40.0)
	Involved	Uninvolved	Involved	Uninvolved
Lymph node status	17 (34.0)	5 (10.0)	10 (20.0)	18 (36.0)

Fifteen out of the 28 cases of intestinal phenotype showed CDX2 immunoreactivity of score 3 whereas only 1 case of diffuse type a showed a focal CDX2 positivity. The remaining 21 cases of diffuse type carcinomas showed negative immunoreactivity for CDX2, which was statistically significant (P < 0.0001).

All the cases in this study showed Ki-67 positivity. Most of the cases showed a high Ki-67 proliferative index with more than 20% of the tumor cells showing immunoreactivity (34 cases, 68.0%). The intestinal type of carcinomas showed a variable degree of positivity whereas 19 out of the 22 cases of the diffuse phenotype showed high Ki-67 immunoreactivity which was also statistically significant (P = 0.0168).

The CDX2 and Ki-67 immunoreactivity in the two histological types is summarized in [Table 2].

Table 2

Correlation of the histologic type with CDX2 immunoreactivity and Ki-67 proliferative index

	Histological type		Total (%)	P
	n(%)	n(%)
CDX2 – Caudal type homeobox protein 2
CDX2 score
0	21 (42.0)	0	42.0	<0.0001
1	1 (02.0)	1 (2.0)	4.0
2	0	12 (24.0)	24.0
3	0	15 (30.0)	30.0
Ki-67 proliferation index
Low Ki-67 (<20%)	3 (6.0)	13 (26.0)	32.0	0.0168
High Ki-67 (>20%)	19 (38.0)	15 (30.0)	68.0

Grade of CDX2 immunoreactivity and Ki-67 proliferation index was correlated with Lymph node status as well as with LVI and PNI. Of the 27 cases with lymph node involvement, 16 cases were immunonegative for CDX2 whereas only 4 cases with CDX2 score 3 were positive for nodal metastasis. This association has been found to be statistically significant (P = 0.0304). Similarly, majority of the cases which were immunonegative for CDX2 also showed significant association with LVI (16 cases, 57.2%; P = 0.0195) and PNI (15 cases, 60.0%; P = 0.0059) [Figure 1] and [Figure 2].

Figure 1: (a) Intestinal type carcinomas with well-formed glands, (H and E, ×40). (b) Strong CDX2 expression (3+) in intestinal type carcinoma. (c) Low Ki-67 index (<20%) in intestinal type carcinoma

Figure 2: (a) Diffuse type carcinomas with signet ring morphology, (H and E, ×40). (b) Weak CDX2 expression (1+) in diffuse type carcinoma. (c) High Ki-67 index (>20%) in diffuse type carcinoma

Out of the 27 cases with nodal metastasis, a high Ki-67 index was found in 26 cases (96.3%), which was statistically highly significant (P < 0.0001). High Ki-67 index was also significantly associated with LVI (24 cases, 85.7%; P = 0.0051) and PNI (21 cases, 84.0%; P = 0.0322).

The correlation of different histopathological parameters with the CDX2 immunoreactivity and Ki-67 proliferation index is summarized in [Table 3].

Table 3

Drugs used in various treatment protocols used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia

	CDX2 immunoreactivity					Ki-67 proliferation index
	0 (n=21)	1 (n=2)	2 (n=12)	3 (n=15)	P	Low (<20%) (n=16)	High (>20%) (n=34)	P
LVI – Lymphovascular invasion; PNI – Perineural invasion; CDX2 – Caudal type homeobox protein 2
Depth of invasion
Lamina propria	1	1	0	3	>0.05	4	1	<0.0001
Submucosa	1	1	0	2		3	1
Muscularis propria	4	0	5	2		8	3
Serosa	15	0	7	8		3	27
LVI
Present	16	1	7	4	0.0195	4	24	0.0051
Absent	5	1	5	11		12	10
PNI
Present	15	2	5	3	0.0059	4	21	0.0322
Absent	6	0	7	12		12	13
Lymph node status
Uninvolved	5	1	6	11	0.0304	15	8	<0.0001
Involved	16	1	6	4		1	26

CDX2 expression was also correlated with Ki-67 index [Figure 3]. Eighteen cases with high Ki-67 index were associated with negative CDX2 expression. Out of the 15 cases with a CDX2 score 3, 10 cases showed a low Ki-67 index and 5 cases had a high Ki-67 index. This association was also found to be statistically significant (P = 0.0032).

Figure 3: Correlation between CDX2 and Ki-67

Discussion

Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Newer parameters and markers are being used more frequently to detect and prognosticate these tumors. Gastric carcinomas are rare in persons below 30 years, and its incidence increases progressively with age.

CDX2 as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancers is well documented. However, its role as a prognostic marker in other carcinomas including gastric carcinoma is yet to be established.

Yu et al. in their study found that the percentage of female cases gradually decreased with age whereas that of the male cases were reverse.[11] Janssen et al. in their study found no difference in the rates of diffuse gastric carcinoma between the sexes. However, the rate of male patients with intestinal type carcinomas was more than twice as high as that of women.[12] Saha et al. in their study found a median age of 55 years with male:female sex ratio of 2.7:1.[13] In the present study, the mean age was 51.16 years with a male:female ratio of 1.63:1.

Environmental factors are strongly associated with gastric carcinomas. Besides H. pylori infection, tobacco smoking and dietary factors are the most important risk factors. Machida-Montani et al. in their study found a strong association of H. pylori infection and smoking with noncardiac gastric carcinomas.[14] Lee and Derakhshan in their study also found smoking and nonvegetarian food habit and excess salt intake to be strong independent risk factors of gastric cancers.[15] In our study too, about 66.0% of cases were smokers and 82.0% of cases had a nonvegetarian dietary habit.

Henson et al.[16] and Wu et al.[17] in their study of gastric carcinomas found a progressive increase in the diffuse type of gastric carcinoma, with respect to age. However, Saha et al.[13] and Lundegårdh et al.[18] in their study postulated the intestinal subtype being significantly more common among elderly people than in the younger age groups. In our study too, the majority of the cases were intestinal among which most were moderately differentiated. Cambruzzi et al. in their study found a predominance of lesions classified as T3 and N1.[19] This finding is similar to our study where 82% cases were advanced gastric cancer, of which T3 lesions predominated.

According to Liu et al., the presence of LVI is an important prognostic factor for gastric cancers that show no lymph node metastasis, with survival rate being lower in cases where lymphatic invasion was detected.[20] In this study, we found both LVI and PNI were present in 77.27% of diffuse phenotype carcinomas whereas among the intestinal types, LVI and PNI were observed in 39.28% and 28.57% of the cases, respectively. Overall, 54% cases show lymph node involvement of which 34% cases were of diffuse type and 20% were intestinal. These findings corroborated with the findings of Secondo Folli et al.[21] However, the findings were in sharp contrast to the findings of Cambruzzi et al., who found no significant relationship with histological grade and Lauren's histological type.[19]

CDX2 represents a transcription factor for various intestinal genes and thus an important regulator of intestinal differentiation which could be identified in intestinal metaplasia and gastric carcinomas. Ha Kim et al.[22] in his study, found that increased CDX2 expression correlated with a higher proportion of intestinal-type cancers and a lower proportion of PNI and lymph node metastasis. Advanced gastric cancers showed decreased CDX2 expression compared with early gastric cancer. There was no significant correlation between CDX2 expression and LVI. Similar findings were also documented by Roessler et al.[23] and Fan et al.[24] In our study too, all intestinal type cases were CDX2 positive of which 15 cases showed strong positivity (3+). Only one case of diffuse type was CDX2 positive. A positive correlation has been observed between strong CDX2 expression and intestinal differentiation (P < 0.0001). We also found 16 cases with a CDX2 score of 0, associated with lymph node involvement whereas only 4 cases with CDX2 score of 3+ were associated with lymph node involvement. Hence, an increased CDX2 expression by neoplastic cells is negatively correlated with lymph node involvement (P = 0.0304).

Lazar et al. observed a close correlation between the degree of tumor differentiation and the Ki-67 score.[10] However, the results of the study did not reveal any correlation between the Lauren's Classification of gastric carcinomas, the LVI, the depth of tumor invasion, the TNM stage and the Ki-67 score (P > 0.05). Ramires et al. in their study also that Ki67 LI of diffuse carcinomas were not significantly different from that of intestinal carcinomas. Ki67 LI was significantly higher (P = 0.006) in superficial than in deep areas regardless of histological tumor type. No significant relationship was observed between Ki-67 LI and wall invasion, lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion or ploidy.[25] In the study, all cases were Ki-67 positive, among which 68% cases had high Ki-67 index, of which majority were of diffuse type. The correlation between diffuse subtype and high Ki-67 index was statistically significant (P = 0.0168). LVI and PNI associated with high Ki-67 index were present in 70.6% and 61.8% cases respectively whereas only 25% with low Ki-67 index had both LVI and PNI. Thus, high Ki-67 index strongly correlated with the presence of LVI and PNI (P = 0.0051). About 85.3% cases with high Ki-67 index had lymph node involvement, which was statistically significant (P < 0.0001). It was also observed that strong CDX2 expression was associated with low Ki-67 index whereas negative or dim CDX2 expression was associated with high Ki-67 index. The correlation was statistically significant (P < 0.0048). These findings are very similar to the findings of Seno et al.[9]

Conclusions

CDX2 is an important marker for intestinal metaplasia and intestinal type of gastric adenocarcinomas. Higher grades of CDX2 positivity are associated with early gastric cancers and lower rates of lymph nodal metastasis. Hence, these results suggest that CDX2 might be a useful marker in predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric adenocarcinomas. Ki-67 LI on the other hand, is helpful in differentiating between the different histological grades and is a useful prognostic marker in identifying the group of patients with aggressive tumors. There is also an inverse relation between the degree of CDX2 expression and Ki-67 positivity.

Conflict of Interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Publication History

Article published online:
23 June 2021