[Correlation of expression of p120ctn , RhoA and Cdc42 and their significance in non-small cell lung cancer].
BACKGROUND
Cell adhesion and tumor metastasis can be regulated by p120ctn . The aim of this work is to investigate the correlation of expression of p120ctn , RhoA and Cdc42, as well as their influence on clinical pathologic factors in non-small cell lung cancer, and to provide evidences for exploring the biological functions of p120ctn in tumors.


METHODS
The expression of p120ctn , RhoA and Cdc42 was detected in 124 cases of non-small cell lung cancer by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The p120ctn mainly expressed on the cell membrane of normal bronchial epithelium. Abnormal expression of p120ctn , including decreased membranous expression and increased cytoplasmic expression, was found in 99 of 124 lung cancer specimens (79.8%). The abnormal expression rate of p120ctn evidently related to cell differentiation, TNM stages and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), but not to histological classification. The RhoA and Cdc42 expressed normally in bronchial epithelium, but apparently overexpressed in tumor tissues (62.9%, 78/124; 56.5%, 70/124). The overexpression rate of RhoA and Cdc42 had no significant relationship with clinical pathological characteristics. There were considerable consistency and correlation between abnormal p120ctn expression and overexpression of RhoA and Cdc42 in non-small cell lung cancer (Kappa=0.523, P < 0.001; Kappa=0.493, P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal expression of p120ctn may play an important role in the up-regulation of RhoA and Cdc42 expression.
Department of Pathology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R.China.
Yang
Y
Liu
Hongtao
H
Xu
Nan
N
Liu
Liang
L
Wang
Enhua
E
Wang