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Clinical significance of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition in laryngeal carcinoma: Its role in the different subsites
Author(s) -
Mezi Silvia,
Chiappetta Caterina,
Carletti Raffaella,
Nardini Andrea,
Cortesi Enrico,
Orsi Errico,
Piesco Gabriele,
Di Gioia Cira
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24838
Subject(s) - vimentin , epithelial–mesenchymal transition , pathology , mesenchymal stem cell , immunohistochemistry , cadherin , carcinoma , catenin , biology , transition (genetics) , cancer research , cancer , medicine , wnt signaling pathway , cell , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , metastasis , gene , genetics , biochemistry
Abstract Background During epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, cancer cells lose adhesion capacity gaining migratory properties. The role of the process on prognosis has been evaluated in 50 cases of laryngeal carcinoma. Methods E‐cadherin, N‐cadherin, β‐catenin, α‐catenin, γ‐catenin, caveolin‐1, and vimentin immunohistochemical expression were evaluated using a double score based on staining intensity and cellular localization. Results Cytoplasmic E‐cadherin and α/γ catenin staining were associated with a decrease in survival, cytoplasmic β‐catenin was associated with advanced stage, and N‐cadherin and vimentin expression were associated with poor differentiation and tumor relapse. On the basis of cancer cells, epithelial or mesenchymal morphological and immunophenotypic similarity we identified 4 main subgroups correlated with a transition to a more undifferentiated phenotype, which have a different pattern of relapse and survival. Conclusion The negative prognostic role of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition has been confirmed and a predictive role in glottic tumors has been suggested, leading us to propose epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition as an additional adverse feature in laryngeal carcinoma.