title: Current status and clinical association of beta-catenin with juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A possible role of the APC/beta-catenin pathway in the pathogenesis of sporadic juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma has been suggested. This paper presents its current status and clinical association in our patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational study was conducted at King George Medical University and Central Drug Research Institute, in Lucknow, India. Western blot analysis was undertaken in 16 cases to examine beta-catenin expression. The clinical details were recorded along with follow up observations, to determine associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up-regulation of beta-catenin expression was seen in 69 per cent of cases. The clinical variables did not reveal significant differences between patients with extremes of expression (extreme under- vs over-expression). However, absent expression was shown exclusively in young adults aged over 18 years, while enhanced expression was associated with an altered facial profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a beta-catenin association was seen in a subset of our sporadic juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma cases, its expression was not homogeneous. This is in contrast to the Western literature that suggests a universal (homogenous) enhanced expression in the majority. Hence, further research is required to better define its molecular cascade.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,King George Medical University,Lucknow,India.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mishra
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,King George Medical University,Lucknow,India.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,King George Medical University,Lucknow,India.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Verma
authors: Department of Biochemistry,King George Medical University,Lucknow,India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Pandey
authors: Department of Endocrinology,Central Drug Research Institute,Lucknow,India.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Trivedi
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,King George Medical University,Lucknow,India.
authors: H P
authors: HP
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,King George Medical University,Lucknow,India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery,Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust,UK.
authors: R C
authors: RC
authors: Dwivedi
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Nepalgunj Medical College,Kohlpur,Nepal.
authors: S C
authors: SC
authors: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D018322:Angiofibroma / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Beta-Catenin; Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma