Prognostic significance of E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression in Gliomas

Abstract

BackgroundEpithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), principally involving an E-cadherin to N-cadherin shift, linked to tumor invasion or metastasis, and therapeutic resistance in various human cancer. A growing body of recent evidence has supported the hypothesis that EMT play a crucial role in the invasive phenotype of gliomas. To evaluate the prognostic connotation of EMT traits in glioma, expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin was explored in a large series of glioma patients in relation to patient survival rate.MethodsExpressions of E- and N-cadherin were examined using immunohistochemical analysis in 92 glioma cases diagnosed at our hospital. These markers expressions were also explored in 21 cases of fresh frozen glioma samples and in glioma cell lines by Western blot analysis.ResultsExpression of E-cadherin was observed in eight cases (8.7%) with weak staining intensity in the majority of the immunoreactive cases (7/8). Expression of N-cadherin was identified in 81 cases (88.0%) with high expression in 64 cases (69.5%). Fresh frozen tissue samples and glioma cell lines showed similar results by Western blot analysis. There was no significant difference in either overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) according to E-cadherin expression (P > 0.05). Although the OS rates were not affected by N-cadherin expression levels (P = 0.138), PFS increased in the low N-cadherin expression group with marginal significance (P = 0.058). The survival gains based on N-cadherin expression levels were significantly augmented in a larger series of publicly available REMBRANDT data (P < 0.001).ConclusionsE- and N-cadherin, as representative EMT markers, have limited prognostic value in glioma. Nonetheless, the EMT process in gliomas may be compounded by enhanced N-cadherin expression supported by unfavorable prognostic outcomes.

Expression and clinical significance of WWOX, Elf5, Snail1 and EMT related factors in epithelial ovarian cancer

“…Moreover, EMT mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin showed increased expression. N-cadherin and vimentin can loosen the tumor cells, resulting in migration and spread (17,18). The results of this study showed that E-cadherin expression was low in EOC tissues and highly expressed in adjacent tissues; Snail1, N-cadherin and vimentin were highly expressed in EOC tissues and the expression was low in adjacent tissues, which was consistent with related studies and the molecular biological characteristics of the EMT process of ovarian cancer.…”

IGFBP5 increases cell invasion and inhibits cell proliferation by EMT and Akt signaling pathway in Glioblastoma multiforme cells

“…Because previously study showed that N-cadherin enhanced glioma migration and metastasis [20]. And Vimentin is a marker of cellular EMT, a phenomenon associated with GBM invasion and metastatic [21].…”

3D‐Bioprinted Mini‐Brain: A Glioblastoma Model to Study Cellular Interactions and Therapeutics

“…Recent advancements in the 3D bioprinting technologies have facilitated the construction of clinically relevant biomimetic tissues, which are able to replicate the delicate architecture and complex composition of different tissues and applied for the tissue regeneration. [11,12] Such models will allow to test drugs in a realistic environment before embarking on animal studies, eventually contributing to reducing and refining animal experiments. Due to this versatility, 3D bioprinting can be a promising tool to create 3D models that mimic the architecture and cellular composition of GBM, allowing us to better study the tumor biology as well as screen drugs in a relevant environment.…”

“…On the contrary, CDH1, which is significantly downregulated in glioblastoma cells in our model, does not show any significant difference in GBM patients indicating that other factors might influence the overall expression of this gene in patients, as a low CDH1 expression is characteristic for GBM as described elsewhere. [12,22] .…”