Yang-an Liu1, Bin-yong Liang2, Yan Guan2, Jian You3, Ling Zhu4, Xiao-ping Chen2, Zhi-yong Huang5. 1. Research Laboratory and Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Wuhan Central Hospital, Wuhan, China. 2. Research Laboratory and Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. 3. Department of General Surgery, Puai Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. 4. Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Wuhan Central Hospital, Wuhan, China. 5. Research Laboratory and Hepatic Surgery Center, Department of Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: zyhuang@medmail.com.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Our previous study suggested that N-cadherin was downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim in this study was to investigate the correlation between N- and E-cadherin expression in HCC and its clinical significance. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with HCC undergoing liver resection were retrospectively studied. N- and E-cadherin expression in HCC and adjacent liver tissue were investigated using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The correlation between the expression status of both cadherins and surgical outcomes was analyzed. RESULTS: In 23 patients negative for E-cadherin expression, 19 of them (82.6%) were also negative for N-cadherin expression. In 30 patients with heterogeneous expression of E-cadherin, 20 of them (66.7%) also had heterogeneous expression of N-cadherin. In 33 patients with uniformly positive expression of E-cadherin, 19 of them (57.6%) also had uniformly positive expression of N-cadherin. Therefore, there was a positive correlation between expression patterns of N- and E-cadherins. Concurrent loss of both N- and E-cadherin expressions was significantly associated with absence of the tumor capsule, vascular invasion, and poor differentiation. The 1- and 3-y disease-free survival rates were 27% and 9%, respectively, and the 1- and 3-y overall survival rates were 64.3% and 14.3%, respectively, in patients with concurrent loss of both cadherins, which were significantly worse than those with concurrent uniformly positive expression or heterogeneous expression of both cadherins. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of N-cadherin was positively correlated with loss of E-cadherin in HCC. Concurrent loss of both N- and E-cadherin expressions was associated with poor surgical outcomes of HCC patients undergoing liver resection.
BACKGROUND: Our previous study suggested that N-cadherin was downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our aim in this study was to investigate the correlation between N- and E-cadherin expression in HCC and its clinical significance. METHODS: Eighty-six patients with HCC undergoing liver resection were retrospectively studied. N- and E-cadherin expression in HCC and adjacent liver tissue were investigated using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The correlation between the expression status of both cadherins and surgical outcomes was analyzed. RESULTS: In 23 patients negative for E-cadherin expression, 19 of them (82.6%) were also negative for N-cadherin expression. In 30 patients with heterogeneous expression of E-cadherin, 20 of them (66.7%) also had heterogeneous expression of N-cadherin. In 33 patients with uniformly positive expression of E-cadherin, 19 of them (57.6%) also had uniformly positive expression of N-cadherin. Therefore, there was a positive correlation between expression patterns of N- and E-cadherins. Concurrent loss of both N- and E-cadherin expressions was significantly associated with absence of the tumor capsule, vascular invasion, and poor differentiation. The 1- and 3-y disease-free survival rates were 27% and 9%, respectively, and the 1- and 3-y overall survival rates were 64.3% and 14.3%, respectively, in patients with concurrent loss of both cadherins, which were significantly worse than those with concurrent uniformly positive expression or heterogeneous expression of both cadherins. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of N-cadherin was positively correlated with loss of E-cadherin in HCC. Concurrent loss of both N- and E-cadherin expressions was associated with poor surgical outcomes of HCC patients undergoing liver resection.
Authors: Alexandra Drakaki; Maria Hatziapostolou; Christos Polytarchou; Christina Vorvis; George A Poultsides; John Souglakos; Vassilis Georgoulias; Dimitrios Iliopoulos Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2015-07-24 Impact factor: 4.430