DNA ploidy, E-cadherin, beta-catenin expression and their clinicopathologic significance in imprints of non-small cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, in imprints of resected non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), the relationship between DNA ploidy and E-cadherin/beta-catenin expression with classical prognostic factors.


METHODS
A total of 45 patients (28 squamous cell carcinomas and 17 adenocarcinomas) who underwent surgical treatment for NSCLC were examined with immunocytochemistry for the expression of E-cadherin/ beta-catenin imprint smears, which also were stained using the Thionin Feulgen procedure in order to evaluate DNA ploidy in the same cases.


RESULTS
Thirty-two (71.1%) of the tumors were classified as aneuploid. E-cadherin-positive expression was observed in 18 (40%) and p-catenin in 21 (46.7%) of the tumors. We found a significant relationship between DNA ploidy and grade (p= 0.005). E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression correlated with grade (p < 0.0001 for both) and also with nodal status (p = 0.004 and p = 0.017, respectively). The mean DNA index was higher for tumors with negative expression of E-cadherin/beta-catenin (p = 0.045 and p = 0.025, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
DNA aneuploidy correlates with poor and moderately differentiated tumors. E-cadherin- and beta-catenin-positive expression is in relation to well-differentiated carcinomas and nodal metastasis. The relationship between DNA ploidy and E-cadherin/beta-catenin needs to be further investigated.
Chelidonis
George
G
1st Pathology Department and Cytology Unit, Medical School, Athens University, Athens, Greece.
Kavantzas
Nikolaos
N
Patsouris
Efstratios
E
Pagaki
Eumorfia
E
Athanasiadou
Anna-Maria
AM
Agrogiannis
George
G
Athanasiadou
Pauline
P
D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D002452:Cell Count; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011003:Ploidies; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D051176:beta Catenin