[A study of E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression and their correlation with prognosis of nonsmall cell lung carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protein and mRNA expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and to find their correlation with histological type, differentiation, metastasis and prognosis.


METHODS
High sensitive S-P immunohistochemical method and in situ hibridization were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemistry revealed that among the 101 cases, the positive rates of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were 68.3% and 81.2% respectively. The abnormal expression rates of these two proteins were 61.4% and 64.4% respectively. There was no significant relationship between E-cadherin and beta-catenin staining and histological type of the tumor (P > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference between well and moderately differentiated cells and poorly differentiated cells (P < 0.05). In cases with lymphatic metastasis, the abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were significantly higher than those in nonmetastatic cases (P < 0.05). The mean survival time in cases with abnormal E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression were significantly shorter than that in cases with the expression grading (+ +) approximately (+ + +). In situ hybridization showed that in NSCLC, the positive rate of E-cadherin and beta-catenin mRNA was 38.9% and 47.2% respectively. Their concordant rates with (+ +) approximately (+ + +) protein expression were 78.6% and 82.4%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The concordant rate of E-cadherin and beta-catenin mRNA and protein expression was relatively high. They can be used as markers of prognosis of NSCLC in clinical practice.
Qiu
Xueshan
X
Department of Pathology, Basic Medical College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
Yang
Xiu
X
Li
Qingchang
Q
Wang
Enhua
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin