title: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in metaplastic breast carcinomas with chondroid differentiation: expression of the E-cadherin repressor Snail.
abstract: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in tumor progression and is induced by the master regulator Snail, a transcription factor that down-regulates epithelial genes, including E-cadherin, and up-regulates mesenchymal genes. Metaplastic breast carcinomas with chondroid differentiation (MBCD) have an epithelial and a mesenchymal chondroid component, giving them morphologic features reminiscent of EMT. To determine whether EMT plays a role in MBCD, we differentially analyzed Snail and E-cadherin expression in 12 tumors by immunohistochemistry. The interface between the tumor components showed a transition from inactive cytoplasmic Snail expression in the carcinoma component to active nuclear Snail expression in the metaplastic cells. Membranous E-cadherin staining was present in the epithelial and absent in the metaplastic component, showing a gradual loss of expression at the interface. E-cadherin expression was inversely correlated with active nuclear Snail expression. Our results suggest that EMT is induced in MBCD and may contribute to their frequent hematogenous metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, The University of Chicago Medical Center, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637-1470, USA. katja.gwin@uchospitals.edu
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gwin
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buell-Gutbrod
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tretiakova
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montag
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors