Reduced expression of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin is associated with high cell proliferative activity and poor differentiation in non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of catenins (alpha, beta, and gamma) in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and its relation to clinicopathological factors and prognosis.


METHODS
The expression of catenins was analysed immunohistochemically in 261 patients with resected NSCLC, diagnosed between 1978 and 1996 in eastern Finland: The cell proliferation index of the tumours was analysed by means of an image analyser. The staining results were compared with clinicopathological characteristics and survival.


RESULTS
Normal catenin staining was found significantly more often in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas or anaplastic/large cell carcinomas. Reduced staining of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin was related to poor differentiation of the tumour. The tumours with reduced staining of beta-catenin or gamma-catenin often had higher cell proliferation activity. Nuclear staining of beta-catenin and gamma-catenin was found in 16 (7%) and 29 (13%) cases, respectively. This nuclear staining correlated directly with increased cell proliferation and inversely with membranous staining. In survival analyses the predictors of overall and disease free survival were stage and tumour type. The expression of catenins did not affect survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and gamma-catenin is related to histological type and differentiation in NSCLC, although catenins have no independent prognostic value. However, this study supports the important role of the nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and gamma-catenin in highly proliferative cells.
Pirinen
R T
RT
Departments of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University of Kuopio and Kuopio University Hospital, PO Box 1627, FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
Hirvikoski
P
P
Johansson
R T
RT
Hollmén
S
S
Kosma
V M
VM
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin