Song-Tao Qi1, Jie Zhou, Jun Pan, Chao Zhang, Chotai Silky, Xiao-Rong Yan. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, GuangzhouDepartment of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, LuzhouDepartment of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Abstract
AIMS: To assess the immunophenotypic changes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in craniopharyngioma, especially at the tumour invasive front, and to correlate the findings with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-two craniopharyngiomas were investigated for the presence of EMT markers (vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin) by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The relationships between expression of these markers and various clinicopathological indicators and clinical outcomes of the tumours were analysed. There were statistically significant differences in the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-β-catenin between adamantinomatous and papillary variants. The expression of vimentin and E-cadherin (but not that of β-catenin) in whole tumour sections was associated with tumour recurrence, and with postoperative weight and hypothalamic disturbances; the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-β-catenin at the tumour invasive front was also associated with tumour recurrence, postoperative weight, and hypothalamic disturbances. The results from western blotting closely matched those of immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential prognostic implications of vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin expression in craniopharyngiomas. EMT may represent a crucial mechanism in the progression of craniopharyngiomas.
AIMS: To assess the immunophenotypic changes associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in craniopharyngioma, especially at the tumour invasive front, and to correlate the findings with clinicopathological features and patient outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-two craniopharyngiomas were investigated for the presence of EMT markers (vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin) by immunohistochemistry and western blot. The relationships between expression of these markers and various clinicopathological indicators and clinical outcomes of the tumours were analysed. There were statistically significant differences in the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-β-catenin between adamantinomatous and papillary variants. The expression of vimentin and E-cadherin (but not that of β-catenin) in whole tumour sections was associated with tumour recurrence, and with postoperative weight and hypothalamic disturbances; the expression of vimentin and E-cadherin-β-catenin at the tumour invasive front was also associated with tumour recurrence, postoperative weight, and hypothalamic disturbances. The results from western blotting closely matched those of immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates, for the first time, the potential prognostic implications of vimentin, E-cadherin and β-catenin expression in craniopharyngiomas. EMT may represent a crucial mechanism in the progression of craniopharyngiomas.