title: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in penile squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a phenomenon in epithelial tumors that involves loss of intercellular adhesion, mesenchymal phenotype acquisition and enhanced migratory potential. While the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process has been extensively linked to metastatic progression of squamous cell carcinoma, studies of the role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in squamous cell carcinoma containing high risk human papillomaviruses are scarce. Moreover, to our knowledge epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition involvement in human penile squamous cell carcinoma, which can arise through transforming HPV infections or independently of HPV, has not been investigated. We evaluated the presence of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers and their relationship to HPV in penile squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition related transcription factors Twist, Zeb1 and Snail by immunohistochemical staining in 64 penile squamous cell carcinoma cases. HPV was detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Simultaneous loss of membranous E-cadherin expression and vimentin over expression were noted in 43.5% of penile squamous cell carcinoma cases. HPV was significantly associated with loss of membranous E-cadherin but not with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Recurrence and mortality rates were significantly higher in cases showing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that in penile squamous cell carcinoma epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is associated with poor prognosis but not with the presence of HPV.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain. Electronic address: emilimasferreriniubo@gmail.com.
authors: Emili
authors: E
authors: Masferrer
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Ferrándiz-Pulido
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Magalí
authors: M
authors: Masferrer-Niubò
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Alfredo
authors: A
authors: Rodríguez-Rodríguez
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Inmaculada
authors: I
authors: Gil
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Antoni
authors: A
authors: Pont
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Octavi
authors: O
authors: Servitje
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: García de Herreros
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Belen
authors: B
authors: Lloveras
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Vicenç
authors: V
authors: García-Patos
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Ramon M
authors: RM
authors: Pujol
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Agustí
authors: A
authors: Toll
authors: Department of Dermatology, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (EM), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology (BL), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology (RMP, AT), Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (CF-P, VG-P), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Urology, Hospital del Mar, Parc de Salut Mar, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AR-R), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Dermatology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (OS), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (AGdH), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Mathematics, Universitad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid (MM-N), Spain; Department of Dermatology (IG), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain; Department of Urology (AP), Hospital Universitari St. Joan de Reus-Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona, Tarragona, Spain.
authors: Inmaculada
authors: I
authors: Hernández-Muñoz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
keywords: biological; carcinoma; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; human papillomavirus DNA tests; penis; squamous cell; tumor markers