Overexpression of homeobox B-13 correlates with angiogenesis, aberrant expression of EMT markers, aggressive characteristics and poor prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma.
To investigate the expression of homeobox B (Hoxb)-13 and analyze its relationship with tumor angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated markers (E-cadherin and vimentin), clinicopathologic data and prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the level of Hoxb-13 expression in tumor tissues and surrounding non-tumor tissues from 85 subjects with pancreatic carcinoma. Besides, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31, E-cadherin and vimentin were also detected in tumor tissues by immunostaining. We found that the level of Hoxb-13 expression was significantly higher in pancreatic carcinoma tissues than in paracarcinomatous tissues (P < 0.05). Hoxb-13 staining was positively correlated with VEGF (r = 0.429, P < 0.001) and microvessel density (MVD) (r = 0.454, P < 0.001). Likewise, Hoxb-13 staining was positively correlated with vimentin (r = 0.448, P < 0.001); while it was negatively correlated with E-cadherin (r = -0.405, P < 0.001). High Hoxb-13 expression was associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics, worse disease-free survival (DFS) (P < 0.001) and worse overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that Hoxb-13 was an independent predictor for poor DFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.002). In conclusion, our data show that overexpressed Hoxb-13 is correlated with tumor angiogenesis, aberrant expression of EMT-associated markers and aggressive clinicopathological characteristics, and serves as a promising marker for unfavourable prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma.
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China ; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Hefei 230001, People's Republic of China.
Lu-Lu
LL
Zhai
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China ; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Hefei 230001, People's Republic of China.
Yang
Y
Wu
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China ; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Hefei 230001, People's Republic of China.
Chong-Yang
CY
Cai
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University Hefei 230001, Anhui Province, People's Republic of China ; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Hefei 230001, People's Republic of China.
Zhi-Gang
ZG
Tang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001706:Biopsy; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C484414:HOXB13 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014746:Vimentin
Homeobox; angiogenesis; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; pancreatic carcinoma; prognosis