title: The prognostic role of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers E-cadherin and Slug in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) prognosis is definitely related to lymph node metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) allows neoplastic cells to gain the plasticity and motility required for tumour progression and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of EMT in the prognosis of LSCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunohistochemical analysis of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Slug, ZEB1, and ZEB2 was performed in 37 consecutive LSCC cases. Low E-cadherin levels and high Slug levels correlated with both disease recurrence (P = 0.02 and P =0.01, respectively) and shorter disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.04 and P = 0.02, respectively). Relative expression levels of CDH1, SNAI2, miR-1 and the miR-200 family were also evaluated. CDH1, miR-200a and miR-200c down-regulation and SNAI2 overexpression were significantly associated with disease recurrence (P = 0.03, P = 0.02, P = 0.04, and P = 0.04, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EMT increases tumour recurrence risk and shortens DFS in LSCC. E-cadherin and Slug immunohistochemical analysis could be useful for identifying patients requiring more aggressive treatment after surgery.
authors: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Rocco
authors: R
authors: Cappellesso
authors: Otolaryngology Section, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Gino
authors: G
authors: Marioni
authors: Radiotherapy Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV, IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors: Marika
authors: M
authors: Crescenzi
authors: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Luciano
authors: L
authors: Giacomelli
authors: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Vincenza
authors: V
authors: Guzzardo
authors: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Mussato
authors: Otolaryngology Section, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Staffieri
authors: Otolaryngology Section, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Martini
authors: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Stella
authors: S
authors: Blandamura
authors: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors: Ambrogio
authors: A
authors: Fassina
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; C000604408:SNAI2 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; laryngeal carcinoma; neck lymph node metastasis; prognosis