Wnt1 overexpression promotes tumour progression in non-small cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
The Wnt gene family is involved in embryogenesis and tumourigenesis. We investigated the clinical significance of Wnt1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
We studied 216 NSCLC patients. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate the Wnt1 expression in relation to the expression of beta-catenin and Wnt-targets, including c-Myc, Cyclin D1, VEGF-A and MMP-7. The Ki-67 proliferation index and the intratumoural microvessel density (IMD) were also evaluated.


RESULTS
The ratio of tumours with an aberrant beta-catenin expression was significantly higher in Wnt1-positive tumours than in Wnt1-negative tumours (p<0.0001). The Wnt1 expression significantly correlated with the expression of c-Myc (p<0.0001), Cyclin D1 (p<0.0001), VEGF-A (p=0.0160), MMP-7 (p<0.0001), the Ki-67 index (p=0.0048) and the IMD (p=0.0267). Furthermore, the Wnt1 status was a significant prognostic factor for NSCLC patients (p=0.0127).


CONCLUSIONS
The Wnt1 overexpression is associated with the expression of tumour-associated Wnt-targets, tumour proliferation, angiogenesis and a poor prognosis in NSCLCs.
Huang
Cheng-Long
CL
Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Breast and Endocrinological Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Kita-Gun, Kagawa, Japan. chuang@kms.ac.jp
Liu
Dage
D
Ishikawa
Shinya
S
Nakashima
Takashi
T
Nakashima
Nariyasu
N
Yokomise
Hiroyasu
H
Kadota
Kyuichi
K
Ueno
Masaki
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D051155:Wnt1 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C495247:WNT1 protein, human; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D051176:beta Catenin; D019938:Cyclin D1; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7