Overexpression of AIB1 correlates inversely with E-cadherin expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and may promote lymph node metastasis.

BACKGROUND: It was reported that the nuclear receptor coactivator amplified in breast cancer1 (AIB1) could regulate cancer cell invasion and migration in a nuclear receptor signaling-independent manner. Meanwhile, the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is critical for tumor invasion and metastasis. The present study aimed to determine the role of AIB1 and EMT markers in human pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
METHODS: AIB1, ZO-1, E-cadherin, vimentin, and N-cadherin protein expression in 76 pancreatic adenocarcinomas were assessed using immunohistochemistry and analyzed for clinicopathological significance.
RESULTS: The frequency of AIB1 overexpression in pancreatic adenocarcinomas with lymph node metastasis is 68 % (19/28), which is significantly higher than in pancreatic adenocarcinomas without lymph node metastasis (42 %; 20/48). In addition, the frequency of low expression of E-cadherin in pancreatic carcinomas with lymph node metastasis (68 %; 19/28) was significantly higher than in tumors without lymph node metastasis (44 %; 21/48). Correlation analysis demonstrated that the overexpression of AIB1 was inversely correlated with low expression of E-cadherin in pancreatic adenocarcinomas.
CONCLUSION: Overexpression of AIB1 might promote invasion and metastasis of cancer cells and is associated with down-regulation of E-cadherin in pancreatic adenocarcinomas.