The value of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 for predicting malignancy in gastric precancerous lesions

Here we aimed to first investigate the clinical value of combined detection of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 (cyclo‐oxygenase 2) in prediction of advances in gastric precancerous lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to examine the expression of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 in 396 cases of patients with gastric precancerous lesions, including 66 cases of atrophic gastritis, 106 cases of intestinal metaplasia, 174 cases of low‐moderate‐grade dysplasia and 50 cases of high‐grade dysplasia. The relation of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 staining with various clinicopathological features was analysed by follow‐up study. The positive rates of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 were increased gradually from atrophic gastritis (21.2%, 28.8%), intestinal metaplasia (36.8%, 44.3%), low‐moderate‐grade dysplasia (51.4%, 58.6%) to high‐grade dysplasia (72%, 80%). Double positive staining of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 in gastric precancerous lesions had an increased risk of precancerous progression over 22 times, compared with negative ones. However, the expression of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 was not significantly correlated with age and gender of patients. MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 might play an important role in the process of carcinogenesis and progression of gastric cancer. Combined detection of MG7‐Ag and COX‐2 was of value of predicting early gastric cancer from precancerous lesions.