The Role of TWIST in Ovarian Epithelial Cancers.
10.4132/KoreanJPathol.2014.48.4.283
- Author:
Kyungbin KIM
1
;
Eun Young PARK
;
Man Soo YOON
;
Dong Soo SUH
;
Ki Hyung KIM
;
Jeong Hee LEE
;
Dong Hoon SHIN
;
Jee Yeon KIM
;
Mee Young SOL
;
Kyung Un CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea. kuchoi@pusan.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ovarian epithelial cancer;
TWIST transcription factor;
Cadherins;
HIF1alpha;
Tumor suppressor protein p53
- MeSH:
Anoxia;
Cadherins;
Disease-Free Survival;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition;
Immunohistochemistry;
Multivariate Analysis;
Prognosis;
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53;
Twist Transcription Factor
- From:Korean Journal of Pathology
2014;48(4):283-291
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with tumor hypoxia. EMT is regulated, in part, by the action of TWIST, which inhibits of E-cadherin expression and may interfere with the p53 tumor-suppressor pathway. METHODS: We examined the expression of TWIST, E-cadherin, hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF1alpha), and p53 by immunohistochemistry in 123 cases of ovarian epithelial cancers (OEC) to evaluate the role of TWIST in OEC. We assessed the association between protein expression and clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: The expression of TWIST, E-cadherin, HIF1alpha, and p53 proteins was found in 28.5%, 51.2%, 35.0%, and 29.3% of cases, respectively. TWIST expression was associated with higher histologic grade and unfavorable survival. TWIST expression was correlated with HIF1alpha expression and reduced E-cadherin expression. The altered HIF1alpha/TWIST/E-cadherin pathway was associated with lower overall survival (OS), while the co-expression of TWIST and p53 was correlated with lower progression-free survival. In the multivariate analyses, TWIST expression was an independent prognostic factor for OS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data imply that TWIST expression could be a useful predictor of unfavorable prognosis for OEC. TWIST may affect the p53 tumor-suppressor pathway. Moreover, hypoxia-mediated EMT, which involves the HIF1alpha/TWIST/E-cadherin pathway may play an important role in the progression of OEC.
