Yan Wang1, Nan Liu, Shundong Dai, Hongtao Xu, Enhua Wang. 1. Department of Pathology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shen-yang, Liaoning 110001, P.R.China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It has been known that the expressions of β-catenin and T cell factor 4 (TCF-4) were associated with clinicopathological parameters in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between expressions of β-catenin and TCF-4 in NSCLC. METHODS: The expression of β-catenin was detected with immunohistochemistry in 100 lung cancer samples; the relationship between abnormal located and preserved β-catenin with TCF-4 was investigated by immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation and hybridization in situ. RESULTS: The levels of protein and mRNA were both significantly higher in NSCLC than in corresponding normal lung tissues. Aberrant cytoplasmic and/or nuclear expression of β-catenin were 78.74% (100/127) while aberrant nuclear expression was 37.01% (47/127). Aberrant nuclear β-catenin was significantly associated with differentiation (P=0.0008) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.017). Positive TCF-4 expression (86.67%, 52/60) was normally seen in nucleus and cytoplasm of cancer cells. The intensity of TCF-4 expression was significantly higher in moderately and poorly differentiated lung cancers than that in well differentiated ones. In total 17 cases of β-catenin (+) and TCF-4 (+) patients, 13 cases were detected with the β-catenin/TCF-4 complex, 61.54% in nucleus and 38.46% in cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin are associated with malignant phenotype in NSCLC. TCF-4 expression is associated with poor differentiation in lung cancers. The β-catenin/TCF-4 complex exists widely in NSCLC.
BACKGROUND: It has been known that the expressions of β-catenin and T cell factor 4 (TCF-4) were associated with clinicopathological parameters in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between expressions of β-catenin and TCF-4 in NSCLC. METHODS: The expression of β-catenin was detected with immunohistochemistry in 100 lung cancer samples; the relationship between abnormal located and preserved β-catenin with TCF-4 was investigated by immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation and hybridization in situ. RESULTS: The levels of protein and mRNA were both significantly higher in NSCLC than in corresponding normal lung tissues. Aberrant cytoplasmic and/or nuclear expression of β-catenin were 78.74% (100/127) while aberrant nuclear expression was 37.01% (47/127). Aberrant nuclear β-catenin was significantly associated with differentiation (P=0.0008) and lymphatic metastasis (P=0.017). Positive TCF-4 expression (86.67%, 52/60) was normally seen in nucleus and cytoplasm of cancer cells. The intensity of TCF-4 expression was significantly higher in moderately and poorly differentiated lung cancers than that in well differentiated ones. In total 17 cases of β-catenin (+) and TCF-4 (+) patients, 13 cases were detected with the β-catenin/TCF-4 complex, 61.54% in nucleus and 38.46% in cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: The abnormal mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin are associated with malignant phenotype in NSCLC. TCF-4 expression is associated with poor differentiation in lung cancers. The β-catenin/TCF-4 complex exists widely in NSCLC.