As noted, the loss of E-cadherin is often correlated with poorly differentiated GC, which exhibit higher invasive potential and poor prognoses.16,17 E-cadherin expression in precancerous lesions (i.e. gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia) is not well studied as many studies that looked at this subject were are small.18 In one study, 40 gastrectomy specimens of patients with GC were evaluated.. This evidence concerns the gene CDH1 and gastric cancer.