Clinicopathological evaluation of mast cell infiltrations around gastric cancer cells

We investigated the relationship between clinicopathological features and mast cell infiltrations around gastric cancer cells. The specimens were surgically taken from 40 patients with gastric cancer and stained by 0.05% toluidine blue solution. Mast cells were counted around the most invasive areas of gastric cancer nests using light microscope. The average of the mast cell number of 40 cases with gastric cancer was significantly higher than that of normal gastric epithelium. Mast cells of the cases with metastatic lymph nodes were significantly increased in comparison with those without them. The mast cell number of the cases with lymphatic or vessel invasion was significantly larger than that without them. Mast cells localized near the new vessels around gastric cancer cells. All these results suggest that mast cell accumulation at the tumor site may be expected to promote neovascularization, tumor growth and metastasis at the primary site.