The expression and prognostic value of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins in renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Catenins have prognostic value in several human tumours. The aim of the study was to analyse the prognostic value of catenin expression in a prospectively followed series of renal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-four renal cell carcinomas were prospectively followed-up for a mean of 3.5 years and the survival data of patients were related to standard prognostic factors and to the results of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin immunohistochemistry. The data of catenin immunohistochemistry were also related to the clinical and histopathological characteristics of the tumours.


RESULTS
Low cytoplasmic alpha-catenin expression was related to lymphatic tumour growth (p=0.02) and to tumour necrosis (p=0.02). The weak expression intensity of beta-catenin on cell membranes was related to venous growth inside the tumour (p=0.02), extratumoural venous growth (p=0.03) and to perineural growth (p<0.001). Nuclear gamma-catenin expression was strongly associated with clear cell type (p=0.0001) and high WHO grade (p=0.038). Short recurrence-free survival was predicted by weak membranous alpha-catenin (p=0.015) and beta-catenin (p=0.006) expression intensity, while their cytoplasmic expression was of lower significance (p=0.07 and 0.045, respectively). All the conventional prognostic factors predicted short recurrence-free survival: Fuhrman classification (p=0.02), WHO grade (p=0.026), perineural growth (p=0.013), venous invasion (p=0.0024), tumour size (p=0.004) and T-category (p=0.0001). Independent predictors of short recurrence-free survival were weak membranous expression intensity of beta-catenin (RR=0.15, p=0.004), high T-category (RR=2.70, p=0.0001) and high WHO grade (RR=2.24, p=0.025).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that immunohistochemical analysis of beta-catenin expression may be used as an indicator of aggressiveness in renal cell carcinoma.
Department of Surgery and Urology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. sirpa.aaltomaa@kuh.fi
Sirpa
S
Aaltomaa
Pertti
P
Lipponen
Vesa
V
Kärjä
Seppo
S
Lundstedt
Jani
J
Lappi
Veli-Matti
VM
Kosma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin