Loss of E-cadherin and Acquisition of Vimentin in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition are Noble Indicators of Uterine Cervix Cancer Progression.
10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2012.46.4.341
- Author:
Na Hye MYONG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. myongnh@dankook.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cadherins;
Vimentin;
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition;
Uterine cervical neoplasms
- MeSH:
Antibodies;
Cadherins;
Carcinoma in Situ;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell;
Cervix Uteri;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition;
Female;
Humans;
Proteins;
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor;
Up-Regulation;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms;
Vimentin
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2012;46(4):341-348
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been known to play a key role in the stromal invasion of carcinoma in situ (CIS) lesion. Loss of E-cadherin and acquisition of vimentin are two critical steps in EMT, that are induced by Snail-1 upregulation associated with overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, roles of EMT-related proteins in human cervical tissues have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the immunoexpressions of EMT-related proteins in CIS, microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and invasive SCC to demonstrate their key roles in tumor progression. METHODS: Eighty one CIS, 17 microinvasive, and 21 invasive SCC cases were immunostained with primary antibodies for Snail-1, EGFR, E-cadherin, and vimentin on paraffin-embedded tissue microarray blocks. RESULTS: EGFR and Snail-1 proteins were highly expressed but the levels were not significantly different between the three groups. However, loss of E-cadherin and acquisition of vimentin were proven to occur significantly higher in microinvasive and invasive SCC cases than in CIS. CONCLUSIONS: E-cadherin and vimentin were found to be two useful indicators of EMT in evaluating stromal invasion of CIS. However, it was not demonstrated for Snail-1 and EGFR proteins to play any key role in the progression of cervix cancer.
