A Genetic and Immunohistochemical Analysis ofH. PyloriPhenotypes and p27 expression in Adenocarcinoma Patients in Jordan

Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the most prevalent malignant cancers worldwide and specifically, adenocarcinoma. Based on prior research, there is an association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and the frequency of duodenal ulcer, distal gastric adenocarcinoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and antral gastritis. H. pylori virulence and toxicity factors have been identified that significantly influence the clinical outcomes of H. pylori infection and gastric adenocarcinoma. However, it is unclear exactly how different strains of H. pylori infection affect gastric adenocarcinoma. Current research suggests this involves tumor suppressor genes, like p27, but also H. Pylori toxic proteins. Therefore, we quantified known H. Pylori genotypes within adenocarcinoma patients to establish the prevalence of known toxins that include cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) and vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA) within patients of variable diagnosis. This analysis used gastrectomy samples which were validated for DNA viability. The incidence of H. Pylori in adenocarcinoma patients in Jordan was established to be 54.5% positive (ureA gene) with cagA genotype occurrence at 57.1% but also vacA gene ratios 24.7%:22.1%: 14.3%:14.3%. (vacAs1:vacAs2: vacAm1:vacAm2). It is statistically significant that p27 was dysregulated and suppressed within nearly all H. Pylori vacA genotypes but also that according to our analysis that 24.6% of H. Pylori samples analyzed had an unknown novel genotype and curiously that p27 protein expression was retained in only 12% of tested adenocarcinoma H. Pylori samples which is suggestive that p27 could be used as a prognostic indicator but also that an un-known yet genotype as yet not characterized could be contributing to the regulation of p27 protein within this cellular environment.