Prognostic significance of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers e-cadherin, vimentin and twist in bladder cancer

ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to utilize long-term patient follow-up to determine whether epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers can predict bladder cancer patient survival and progression of disease.Materials and MethodsThis study included 121 patients with bladder cancer. Sixty-four of these patients presented with non-muscle invasive (NMI, stage T1) bladder cancer and 57 with muscle invasive (MI, stage T2, T3). The patients were diagnosed and treated between May 1998 and July 2012. The EMT markers E-cadherin, Twist, and Vimentin were detected via immunohistochemistry. Univariate and multivariate/Cox analyses were then utilized to determine whether these EMT markers could be useful prognostic markers for predicting bladder cancer patient outcomes.ResultsAnalysis of the 121 bladder cancer patients in this study revealed that the frequency of E-cadherin expression was 59.5% (72/121), Twist was 54.5% (66/121), and Vimentin was 24.8% (30/121). Twist and Vimentin were found to have statistically significant correlations with grade, recurrence, and progression but not with stage, whereas E-cadherin was associated with stage but not with the other parameters. In the univariate analysis, grade (p = 0.02) was the only significant predictor for progression-free survival (PFS). Stage, grade, and expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist were included in the multivariate analysis of predicting PFS. In this analysis, grade (p = 0.01) and Vimentin expression (p = 0.001) were found to be significant prognostic factors in predicting PFS.ConclusionsGrade and Vimentin are potential independent indicators in predicting bladder cancer progression and survival.

Avaliação da expressão das proteínas Twist, Caderina-E, e p-Akt nos eventos que regem a progressão do carcinoma epidermóide oral / Analysis of Twist, E-cadherin and p-Akt expression in oral squamous cell carcinomaprogression

A carcinogênese oral é um processo multifásico, onde componentes genéticos levam a desregulação de vias de sinalização celular que controlam funções celulares básicas, como divisão, diferenciação e morte celular. Uma das maneiras de compreender a natureza biológica dos cânceres, além do curso clínico, é através do entendimento do processo de progressão e metástase destas neoplasias. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a participação da proteína Twist no desenvolvimento e progressão dos carcinomas epidermóides orais. Com tal proposta, também foi avaliada a participação das proteínas caderina-E e p-Akt, e sua possível interação com Twist no processo de carcinogênese oral. O trabalho em questão analisou a expressão imuno-histoquímica destas proteínas em 30 espécimes de displasia oral, 20 de carcinoma epidermóide oral e 10 de mucosa oral normal, e avaliou também a possível inter-relação dessas proteínas em linhagens derivadas de carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e pescoço por meio dos ensaios de Western Blotting e imunofluorescência. Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram uma relação inversamente proporcional entre Twist e caderina-E desde os estágios mais precoces da carcinogênese oral. Tal afirmação baseou-se na presença de diferenças significantes entre a expressão imuno-histoquímica de Twist e Caderina-E na amostras de epitélio oral, epitélio displásico e nos espécimes de carcinoma epidermóide oral. Adicionalmente, foi observada a relação inversa entre Twist e a Caderina-E nas linhagens de carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e pescoço, sendo este evento constatado pelo decréscimo nos níveis protéicos da Caderina-E frente a uma elevação de Twist. Estes resultados sugerem um importante papel de Twist na progressão do carcinoma epidermóide oral, e juntamente com a Caderina-E, pode representar um relevante marcador biológico do câncer oral.

The oral carcinogenesis is a multi-stage process, where genetic components leads to deregulation of cell signaling pathways that control basic cellular functions such as division, differentiation and cell death. One way to understand the biological nature of cancers, besides the clinical course, is through understanding the process of progression and metastasis of these neoplasms. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Twist protein in the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas. With this proposal, was also evaluated the involvement of E-cadherin and p-Akt proteins, and its possible interaction with Twist in the process of oral carcinogenesis. The work in question examined the immunohistochemical expression of these proteins in 30 specimens of oral dysplasia, 20 oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 normal oral mucosa, and also evaluated the possible interrelationship of these proteins in lines derived from squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck by means of Western blotting assays and immunofluorescence. The results of this study showed an inverse relationship between Twist and E-cadherin since the earliest stages of oral carcinogenesis. These results were based on the presence of significant differences between the immunohistochemical expression of Twist and ECadherin in samples of oral epithelium, dysplastic epithelium and in specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, we observed the inverse relationship between Twist and E-Cadherin in the lines of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck; this event was evidenced by the decrease in protein levels of E-Cadherin forward to a high of Twist. These results suggest an important role of Twist in the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma, and along with E-cadherin may represent a relevant biomarker of oral cancer.