Expression of E-cadherin and nm23 is associated with the clinicopathological factors of human non-small cell lung cancer in China.
E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule, functions as maintenance of epithelial integrity. nm23, encoded by non-metastatic 23 gene, plays a key role in differentiation of many kinds of epithelium. Loss or dysfunction of E-cadherin and nm23 was frequently identified in many types of human cancers and is considered to correlate with invasive/metastatic phenotype. We previously reported that defective expression of E-cadherin might play a role in the development of the malignant phenotype in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [Q.Y. Fei, H.T. Zhang, X.F. Chen, et al., Defected expression of Ecadherin in non-small cell lung cancer, Lung Cancer 37 (2002) 147-152]. In an attempt to evaluate the significance of E-cadherin and nm23 in human non-small cell lung cancer, we performed mRNA expression and genetic structure analyses of the E-cadherin and nm23 genes in 54 NSCLCs and 46 normal lung tissues. The mRNA expression was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and genetic structure was examined through PCR-SSCP followed by sequencing. Although no mutation of the E-cadherin and nm23 genes was detected, the results obtained in the present study showed that reduction of E-cadherin and nm23 mRNA expression remarkably correlated with low histological differentiation, increasing stage as well as lymph node metastases (P<0.05). These data provide us with support for the idea that dysfunction of E-cadherin and nm23 has a role in progression of NSCLC and that the examination of E-cadherin and nm23 expression can provide experimental evidence for clinical treatment.
Chen
Xiao-Feng
XF
Department of Surgery, Shanghai Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases, Shanghai 200433, PR China.
Zhang
Hong-Tao
HT
Qi
Qing-Yuan
QY
Sun
Mao-Min
MM
Tao
Lu-Yang
LY
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002681:China; D018450:Disease Progression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase