Frequent loss of membranous E-cadherin in gastric cancers: A cross-talk with Wnt in determining the fate of beta-catenin.
The potential correlation of E-cadherin reduction and Wnt2 up-regulation in determining the intracellular distribution of beta-catenin in gastric cancers was investigated by the methods of frozen tissue array-based immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR analysis. It was revealed that membranous E-cadherin was reduced frequently in the two major subtypes of gastric cancer (intestinal gastric cancer, i-GC and diffuse gastric cancer, d-GC) and closely correlated with the risk of lymphoid node metastasis (P < 0.05). The reduction of membranous E-cadherin was paralleled with cytosolic and nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and the increased Wnt2 expression. These results indicate that the reduced E-cadherin is a common genetic phenotype of GCs and plays beneficial roles in tumor metastasis. Altered beta-catenin distribution may result from the imbalance of E-cadherin production and Wnt expression, which confers on gastric cancer cells more aggressive behaviors.
Cheng
Xiao-Xin
XX
Cancer Institute and The Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116027, P. R. China.
Wang
Zi-Chuang
ZC
Chen
Xiao-Yan
XY
Sun
Yuan
Y
Kong
Qing-You
QY
Liu
Jia
J
Gao
Xue
X
Guan
Hong-Wei
HW
Li
Hong
H
D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009154:Mutation; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051154:Wnt2 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C495244:WNT2 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051154:Wnt2 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin