Decreased expression of CDH1 or CTNNB1 affects poor prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ishiguro, Hideyuki; Wakasugi, Takehiro; Terashita, Yukio; Sakamoto, Nobuhiro; Tanaka, Tatsuya; Mizoguchi, Koji; Sagawa, Hiroyuki; Okubo, Tomotaka; Takeyama, Hiromitsu
• Is Part Of: World journal of surgical oncology. Volume 14:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: CDH1-CTNNB1 -- Prognosis -- Immunohistochemistry -- Esophageal cancer; Cancer -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Periodicals; Tumors -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery, Operative -- Periodicals; 616.994059
• DOI: 10.1186/s12957-016-0956-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-7819

Abstract

Abstract Background E-cadherin/CDH1 is one of the proteins involved in cell adhesion, and it is known that decreased expression of E-cadherin induces lymph node metastasis in esophageal cancer. Beta catenin/CTNNB1, which is an important component of the Wnt signaling pathway, binds to E-cadherin at the cell membrane, where the complex of these two proteins functions in the stabilization of cell adhesion. However, its role in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer is still unknown. Methods This study included 86 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgery between 1998 and 2007. The expression of theE-cadherin/CDH1 gene product (E-cadherin/CDH1) and that of the beta catenin/CTNNB1 protein in the cell membrane were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. We examined the correlations among CDH1 or CTNNB1 expression, clinicopathological factors, and the prognosis of patients with ESCC. Results CDH1 and CTNNB1 were expressed in 52.3 % (45/86) and 36.0 % (31/86) of tumor samples, respectively. Both CDH1 and CTNNB1 were co-expressed in 22.1 % (19/86) of esophageal cancer tissues. CDH1 expression correlated with thep -stage (stages I–II vs stages III–IV, p = 0.032), T factor (T1–2 vs T3–4, p = 0.0088), and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.019). However, CDH1 expression did not correlate with theN factor or the blood vessel invasion. CTNNB1 expression correlated with theT factor (T1–2 vs T3–4, p = 0.0015), p -stage (stages I–II vs stages III–IV, p = 0.030), and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.007). The CDH1(+)/CTNNB1(+) phenotype was inversely correlated with theT factor, N factor, p -stage, lymphatic invasion, and blood vessel invasion. Furthermore, patients whose tumors were double-positive for CDH1 and CTNNB1 had a significantly higher survival rate than those whose tumors were negative for CDH1 or CTNNB1 (log-rank test, p = 0.0192). TheT factor andN factor had a strong negative correlation with double-positive tumors. These were both independent prognostic factors, as was the double-positive phenotype. A univariate analysis indicated that theT factor, theN factor, and CDH1 and CTNNB1 co-expression were significant variables that predicted survival (hazard ratio, 2.387; 95 % confidence interval, 1.115–5.102;p = 0.025). Conclusions Decreased expression of CDH1 or CTNNB1 in the cell membranes of cancer cells is associated with poor survival of patients with esophageal cancer.