title: Expression of Smad7 in cholangiocarcinoma: prognostic significance and implications for tumor metastasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few molecular markers known to predict cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) prognosis. Smad7 has a certain relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), but its relevance to CCA in unclear. Therefore expression and clinical significance of Smad7 in CCA was the focus of this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression of Smad7, E-cadherin and vimentin was assessed in 41 patients with CCA by immunohistochemistry and analyzed for associations with clinical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smad7 and vimentin expression in the CCA tissue was dramatically higher than that in adjacent tissues. In addition, Smad7, vimentin and E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with CCA lymph node metastasis and perineural invasion(P ≤ 0.05), but not other factors, such as gender, age, tumor location, tumor type and tumor differentiation degree (P>0.05). The overall survival and relapse-free survival rate was significantly higher in patients with negative Smad7 expression than those with positive Smad7 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMT phenomena may occur in the process of CCA invasion and metastasis. Smad7, which was highly expressed in CCA, may be considered to be one feedback regulator in late stages and could have potential as a prognostic indicator for clinical assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chen-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Chuan-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: San-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; C497806:SMAD7 protein, human; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D014746:Vimentin