title: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition and clinicopathological correlation in craniopharyngioma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the immunophenotypic changes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in craniopharyngioma, especially at the tumour invasive front, and to correlate the findings with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two craniopharyngiomas were investigated for the presence of EMT markers (vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin) by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The relationships between expression of these markers and various clinicopathological indicators and clinical outcomes of the tumours were analysed. There were statistically significant differences in the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-β-catenin between adamantinomatous and papillary variants. The expression of vimentin and E-cadherin (but not that of β-catenin) in whole tumour sections was associated with tumour recurrence, and with postoperative weight and hypothalamic disturbances; the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-β-catenin at the tumour invasive front was also associated with tumour recurrence, postoperative weight, and hypothalamic disturbances. The results from western blotting closely matched those of immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential prognostic implications of vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin expression in craniopharyngiomas. EMT may represent a crucial mechanism in the progression of craniopharyngiomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, GuangzhouDepartment of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, LuzhouDepartment of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Song-Tao
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chotai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silky
authors.forename: Xiao-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000473:pathology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D014746:Vimentin; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: E-cadherin; craniopharyngioma; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; vimentin; β-catenin