title: [Expression and significance of Slug, E-cadherin and N-cadherin in gastrointestinal stromal tumors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the expression and clinical significance of Slug, E-cadherin and N-cadherin in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy eight GIST specimens removed surgically from 2004 to 2007 were collected from the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital. There were 48 males and 30 females with an age range of 28 - 87 years old. The expressions of Slug, E-cadherin and N-cadherin in GIST were determined by immunohistochemistry. And the correlations with their clinicopathologic characteristics were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positive rates of Slug, E-cadherin and N-cadherin in GIST were 53.8% (42/78), 35.9% (28/78) and 75.6% (59/78) respectively. And the differences were statistically significant (χ(2) = 24.98, P < 0.05). Slug was expressed markedly higher in the cases of GIST with distant metastasis or distant metastasis and local invasion: 75% (18/24) vs 44.4% (24/54), 63.6% (28/44) vs 41.2% (14/34), both P < 0.05. And E-cadherin was expressed markedly lower in the cases of GIST with distant metastasis: 16.7% (4/24) vs 44.4% (24/54), P < 0.05. The expression of N-cadherin was not significantly different between its clinicopathological characteristics (allP > 0.05). The expression of Slug correlated negatively with that of E-cadherin (r(s) = -0.267, P = 0.018). But it had no correlation with that of N-cadherin (r(s) = 0.056, P = 0.625).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Slug is expressed markedly higher while E-cadherin markedly lower in metastatic GIST, and both are closely correlated with the metastasis of GIST.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang 550002, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Guo-qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Zhong-min
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Dong-miao
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hua-jian
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shao-yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; C050361:CDH2 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors