title: Expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in human non-small cell lung cancer and the clinical significance.
abstract: E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, plays a key role in the maintenance of tissue integrity. The function of this molecule is partly mediated by alpha-/beta-/gamma-catenin. Loss or dysfunction of E-cadherin is associated with an invasive phenotype. We analyzed the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in human lung cancer to determine the relationship to clinicopathological factors and prognosis. E-cadherin and beta-catenin expressions were evaluated in 331 lung cancer tissues in a immunohistochemical analysis. Reduced E-cadherin expression was evident in 138 (42%), and reduced beta-catenin expression was noted in 122 (37%). Reduced E-cadherin expression significantly correlated with lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.0199). E-cadherin expression significantly correlated with increasing histological differentiation (P = 0.0403). Although reduced E-cadherin did not correlate with the prognosis (P = 0.0652), reduced beta-catenin expression did significantly correlate with a poor prognosis (P = 0.0001). When both were reduced, there was a significant unfavorable prognosis compared with either the reduced expression (P = 0.0493) and preserved expression (P = 0.0003). Multivariate analysis showed a significantly lower survival rate for patients with reduced beta-catenin (P < 0.0001). We interpret these data to mean that dysfunction of the cell-cell adhesion molecule has a role in the progression of lung cancer and that analysis of E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression can provide clinically important evidence on which to base treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugio
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugimachi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011485:Protein Binding; D013997:Time Factors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin