Epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes are associated with patient survival in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and to assess its prognostic significance in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.


METHODS
We performed immunohistochemical stainings for E-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin and fibronectin in a total of 85 cases.


RESULTS
Expression of vimentin and reduced expression of E-cadherin were found to show correlation with poor differentiation (p=0.017, p=0.010). Reduced expression of β-catenin showed significant association with poor differentiation (p=0.023), tumour size (p=0.028) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.011). According to the expression pattern of E-cadherin, β-catenin, vimentin and fibronectin we categorised four phenotypes: complete type, hybrid type, null type and wild type. The complete type of β-catenin with vimentin or fibronectin was found to show an association with lymph node metastasis (p=0.048, p=0.012). Significantly worse overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was observed for the complete type, and the best OS and DFS were observed for the wild type.


CONCLUSIONS
EMT phenotypes can be useful markers for prediction of patient outcomes.
Department of Pathology, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, , Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Mi Jin
MJ
Gu
Joon Hyuk
JH
Choi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA; IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRY; LIVER