title: Relationship between TWIST expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: We have investigated mRNA and protein expression of TWIST, Vimentin and E-cadherin in ESCC (oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma) and explored their relationship with tumour's infiltration and metastasis. RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-PCR) was used to evaluate mRNA expression of TWIST, E-cadherin and Vimentin in 40 cases of ESCC. The protein expression of the genes was examined by immunohistochemical staining in each specimen. Expression of TWIST, E-cadherin and Vimentin mRNA and protein with clinicopathologic parameters were analysed. mRNAs of TWIST, Vimentin and E-cadherin were expressed in 75, 55 and 35% respectively of ESCC, i.e. significantly different from that in normal oesophageal mucosa (15, 0 and 85% respectively; P<0.01). In ESCC with LN (lymph node) metastasis, expression of TWIST and Vimentin mRNA, but not E-cadherin mRNA was significantly higher (100 and 83%) than in ESCC without LN metastasis (64 and 43%, P=0.018) respectively. Levels of mRNA expression of the 3 genes followed similar patterns to their above-mentioned frequencies. Protein expression of TWIST, E-cadherin and Vimentin were observed in 70, 35 and 50% respectively of ESCC, which were significantly different from normal mucosa (15, 80 and 0%; P<0.001). In ESCC with LN metastasis, protein expression of TWIST and Vimentin, but not E-cadherin, were significantly higher (100 and 75%) than in ESCC without LN metastasis (61 and 39%). Protein expression of TWIST was positively correlated with Vimentin (r=0.327, P=0.039), but negatively correlated with E-cadherin (r= -0.633, P=0.000). Thus, both mRNAs and proteins of TWIST and Vimentin were significantly overexpressed in ESCC, especially ESCC with LN metastasis. The mRNA and protein of E-cadherin were down-regulated in ESCC. These results suggest potential roles of TWIST as the promoter of tumour invasion and metastasis associated with down-regulation of E-cadherin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology of Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450052, He'nan Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Xuan
authors.forename: Hong-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qing-Ru
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shan-Shan
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C103173:TWIST1 protein, human; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1; D014746:Vimentin