title: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition correlates with tumor budding and predicts prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered to play an important role in cancer invasion. Tumor budding is a prognostic factor in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between EMT and tumor budding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgical specimens from 78 cases of ESCC resected without preoperative treatment between 2001 and 2013 were enrolled in the study. The mRNA expressions of E-cadherin and vimentin were measured in cancerous tissues using real-time PCR, and each tumor was classified into either epithelial or mesenchymal group. Tumor budding was evaluated in H&E-stained slides and divided into two groups; low-grade budding (<3) and high-grade budding (≥3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 5-year survival rate in the epithelial group was significantly higher than that in the mesenchymal group (62.0% vs. 31.5%, P = 0.021). Survival rate of patients in the low-grade budding group was significantly higher than that of patients in the high-grade budding group (75.1% vs. 25.9%, P < 0.001). High-grade tumor budding was significantly associated with the mesenchymal group (P = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMT was found to occur in ESCC and was significantly associated with tumor budding. Tumor budding was identified as a significant independent prognostic factor among the current population of ESCC.
authors: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Yukiko
authors: Y
authors: Niwa
authors: Suguru
authors: S
authors: Yamada
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Koike
authors: Mitsuro
authors: M
authors: Kanda
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Fujii
authors: Goro
authors: G
authors: Nakayama
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Sugimoto
authors: Shuji
authors: S
authors: Nomoto
authors: Michitaka
authors: M
authors: Fujiwara
authors: Yasuhiro
authors: Y
authors: Kodera
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014746:Vimentin
keywords: epithelial to mesenchymal transition; esophageal cancer; prognosis; tumor budding