Clinical Significance of Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition–Related Molecules in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (emt) refers to the biologic process in which epithelial cells are transformed into interstitial phenotypes by specific pathways. This transition plays an important biologic role in the process by which epithelium-derived malignant tumour cells acquire the ability to migrate and invade. We explored the relationship between emt-associated molecules and patient-related clinical factors to determine whether any clinical characteristics could be used as biomarkers for emt-related protein alterations in lung cancer—especially lung adenocarcinoma.Methods Tumour specimens were collected from 80 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery or lung biopsy, with 4 patients being evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy. Expression of emt-related proteins, including E-cadherin and vimentin, was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. We analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic characteristics and expression level of the emt markers.Results Positive expression of E-cadherin was observed in 63 patients (79%), and vimentin, in 46 patients (57.5%). No significant relationships between E-cadherin or vimentin expression and smoking history, sex, age, driving gene mutations, or cell differentiation were identified. A significant correlation was observed between vimentin expression and pathologic stage. Of the 4 patients who were evaluated a 2nd time after re-biopsy, 3 showed the same emt-related protein expression status as in the first analysis. In the remaining patient, E-cadherin had changed completely.Conclusions Clinicopathologic factors in cancer patients did not help to diagnose emt status in lung adenocarcinoma; however, TNM stage might be associated with vimentin expression.

Role of Calcium Homeostasis in Modulating EMT in Cancer

“…In non-malignant cells, EMT is common for functions such as wound healing, growth, and development. However, in pancreatic, lung, and breast cancer cells, this malignancy process has been shown to lead to poor prognosis and increased tumor progression [ 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Common epithelial genes that are downregulated for this transition include E-cadherin , claudins , and occludins , which are essential in forming junctions between cells and holding them in place.…”

Increased Tumor Growth Rate and Mesenchymal Properties of NSCLC-Patient-Derived Xenograft Models during Serial Transplantation

“…Some characteristics of the primary tumor, such as differentiation and EMT status, can affect tumor evolution in successive passages in PDXs. In addition, these oncogenic processes could have different impacts on tumor evolution depending on the cancer subtype [91,92]. When evaluating vimentin and ezrin expression we observed a correlation between the expression of both proteins in our samples, except for sample LF21.…”

Editorial Board

“…EMT is a known factor in LCa oncogenesis and definitively associated with TSby means of various genes including those coding for transcription factors (FOXC1, FOXC2, FOXQ1, FOXM1 etc), zinc-finger proteins (SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB1 etc), cellular adhesion molecules (E-cadherin, N-cadherin) and α-smooth muscle actin. A series of TS constituents have been demonstrated to induce EMT via these pathways experimentallyincluding direct cellular effects by nicotine itself (as discussed above) and gene expression modulation by means of methylation [87][88][89]. This pathway is important in the pathophysiologies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosiswith their associated increased risks of LCa [90].…”