ZEB1 induces N-cadherin expression in human glioblastoma and may alter patient survival.

The present study investigated the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1), cadherin-1 (CDH1), cadherin-2 (CDH2) and the cell cycle modulating kinase cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) in human glioblastoma (GBM) compared to normal brain tissue, as well as whether the levels of expression were associated with the overall and progression-free survival of the GBM patients. In 44 GBM and five normal brain tissue specimens, the expression levels of ZEB1, CDH1, CDH2 and CDK1 were evaluated by real-time PCR and immunostaining, and the results were correlated with clinical data. The expression levels of all investigated genes as detected by immunostaining were significantly higher in the GBM when compared to the normal brain tissues. There was no influence on survival. A linear correlation between ZEB1 and CDH2 and CDK1 expression was observed in GBM. Moreover, ZEB1 was involved in EMT (e.g., signaling in human GBM) and high ZEB1 levels were linked to an aberrant cell cycle processing, marked by CDK1 overexpression.