title: The Role of β-Catenin in Bcr/Abl Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: An Immunohistochemical Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  β-Catenin is a multifunctional protein that acts as a central effector molecule in the Wnt signaling pathway. Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway causes various diseases including cancer. In this study we evaluated β-catenin expression in bcr/abl-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of β-catenin was evaluated in bone marrow using immunohistochemical methods in 66 patients with bcr/abl-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and in 30 healthy control subjects. Immunreactive score (IRS; staining intensity × percentage of positive stained cells) was used for the evaluation of the cell staining reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IRS of megakaryocytes (IRSmega) was higher in essential thrombocytemia (ET) compared with the control group (P = .022) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF; P = .001). IRS of vascular endothelial cells (IRSvas) was higher in the bcr/abl negative MPN compared with the control group (P = .024). Also, IRSvas was higher in the PMF compared with the control group (P = .001), policythemia vera (PV; P = .005), and ET (P = .006). A positive correlation was detected between IRSmega and platelet counts (P = .019).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has a role in the angiogenesis of PMF and in the thrombopoiesis of PV and ET. Hence, targeting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway could open new avenues for novel therapeutic approaches in bcr/abl-negative MPNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey. Electronic address: ayfergeduk@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geduk
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Atesoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarkun
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mehtap
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hacihanefioglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Demirsoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Medical Faculty, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baydemir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000378:metabolism; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013920:Thrombocythemia, Essential / Q000378:metabolism; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D051176:beta Catenin; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
keywords: Angiogenesis; Essential thrombocytemia; Primary myelofibrosis; Thrombopoiesis; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway