title: CD146 expression correlates with epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers and a poor prognosis in gastric cancer.
abstract: CD146 has been regarded as a novel potential therapeutic target for multiple cancers. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of CD146 in gastric cancer and evaluate its clinical-pathological and prognostic significance. The expression of CD146 and three epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins (E-cadherin, β-catenin and vimentin) was examined in 144 gastric cancers by immunohistochemistry. Fifty-nine cases (41.0%) were defined as positive for CD146 expression. We found that CD146 expression correlated positively with lymph node involvement and a poor prognosis, and retained an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients. Furthermore, positive expression of CD146 was strongly associated with loss of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and acquisition of the expression of the mesenchymal markers nuclear β-catenin and vimentin. These findings suggest that CD146 might promote EMT and progression in gastric cancer, and thus may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with gastric cancers.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China.
authors: Wen-Fang
authors: WF
authors: Liu
authors: Central Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China.
authors: Shu-Rong
authors: SR
authors: Ji
authors: Central Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China.
authors: Jian-Jun
authors: JJ
authors: Sun
authors: Central Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Central Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China.
authors: Zhong-Yan
authors: ZY
authors: Liu
authors: Central Laboratory, Tongji Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China.
authors: Ai-Bin
authors: AB
authors: Liang
authors: School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
authors: Hua-Zong
authors: HZ
authors: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051929:CD146 Antigen; C497902:MCAM protein, human