Expression of E-cadherin/catenin complex in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

The E-cadherin/catenin complex plays an essential role in maintaining intimate intercellular associations and is considered to be involved in tumor metastasis and suppressing invasion by cancer cells. We have analyzed the expression of E-cadherin/catenin complex in a series of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) specimens using immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting. Data are correlated with the patients' clinicopathological parameters, including the clinical stage, presence of intracranial invasion, presence of lymph node or distant metastasis, and histological grading. The E-cadherin/catenin complex is down-expressed in most of the samples examined. Correlation with clinicopathological parameters shows that expression of alpha- and beta-catenin is associated with the occurrence of intracranial invasion.     

Expression of E-cadherin/catenin complexes in breast cancer

Expression of E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins were studied in 100 patients with primary breast cancer compiled of 57 invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and 43 invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) by means of immunohistochemistry. Loss of E-cadherin was observed in 26 (45.6%), and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin expression was lacking in 22 (38.6%), 27 (47.4%) and 22 (38.6%) IDCs, respectively. The expression in ILCs was significantly lower, as compared to IDCs (p<0.001). Immunostaining of both E-cadherin and catenins was completely lacking in 27 (47.4%) IDCs and 30 (93.8%) ILCs. Go-expression of E-cadherin/beta-catenin or E-cadherin/gamma-catenin was preserved more frequently than that of E-cadherin/alpha-catenin complexes. E-cadherin/catenin complex expression showed significant positive correlation with histological differentiation (p=0.037), ER (p=0.017) and PR expression (p=0.052), and negative correlation with c-erbB-2 receptor overexpression (p=0.046). Patients with tumours showing adhesion complexes containing alpha-catenin had an increased overall survival rate compared to other patients. Expression of either E-cadherin or alpha-catenin only, without the formation of entire adhesion complexes, was not correlated with overall survival. Thus, determination of both E-cadherin and catenins is suggested to add further information to estimate the prognosis of breast cancer patients.     

E-cadherinP120ctn在乳腺癌中的表达及意义

  目的  探讨E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin, E-cad)、P120连环蛋白(P120ctn)在乳腺浸润性导管癌(IDC)和浸润性小叶癌(ILC)中的表达及其鉴别诊断意义。  方法  收集解放军第113医院2007年12月至2012年5月间有完整随访资料的浸润性导管癌60例、浸润性小叶癌48例及混合性癌20例。采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测E-cad及P120的表达。  结果  E-cad在IDC和ILC中的阳性率分别为85%(51/60)和0, 其差异有统计学意义(P < 0.01);P120在IDC中阳性率为100%, 且均为细胞膜着色, 而在ILC中阳性率亦为100%, 但均为胞浆着色。E-cad和P120联合使用将20例混合癌确诊为IDC 16例及ILC 4例。IDC中E-cad的表达水平与肿瘤分期无关, 与淋巴结转移有关(P < 0.05)。  结论  E-cad和P120联合使用可以鉴别光镜下易混淆的IDC和ILC, 使组织分型更准确, 建议应用于乳腺癌的常规免疫组织化学检测。E-cad的表达水平与淋巴结转移有关。      

E-cadherin and c-met expression as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer

E-cadherin has an important role in the cell-cell adhesion and is known as an invasion suppressor gene. The c-met, which is a receptor of hepatocyte growth factor receptor, is involved in the proliferative and motile activity in cancer cells. The invasive and metastatic capacities of gastric cancer were studied from the immunohistochemically examined expression of MET and E-cadherin. Among 127 primary gastric cancers, 47 (34%) tumors were found to have preserved E-cadherin expression and the other 84 tumors showed reduced E-cadherin expression. MET expression was found in 55 (43%) tumors. A strong correlation was found between reduced E-cadherin expression and a larger tumor, positive serosal invasion, lymph node metastases or poor prognosis. Tumors with MET expression have the tendencies to invade deeply, to metastasize in more remote lymph nodes or peritoneum and to run a poor prognosis. MET over-expression and reduced E-cadherin expression were strongly associated with lymph node metastasis, peritoneal dissemination and poor prognosis. This group of patients with simultaneously abnormal expressions of these genes had a sixfold relative risk of death, as compared with patients with tumors showing MET negative or preserved E-cadherin expression. These results indicate that immunohistochemical combined analyses of MET and E-cadherin expression may be a powerful tool for the evaluation of invasive capacity and the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.     

E-cadherin在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨E-钙黏蛋白（E-cad）在乳腺浸润性导管癌中的表达及其与乳腺癌临床病理特征、淋巴结转移及预后的关系。方法 采用免疫组织化学 SP 法检测30例乳腺纤维腺瘤、450例乳腺浸润性导管癌组织中E-cad的表达,分析其表达与临床病理特征的关系, Kaplan-Meier法绘制生存曲线。结果E-cad在无淋巴结转移乳腺癌组织中阳性表达率为49.04％（77／157）,在有淋巴结转移的乳腺癌组织中阳性表达率为29.69％（87／293）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。E-cad表达与年龄、淋巴结转移、肿块大小、ER表达、分子分型及组织学分级有关（P＜0.05）,而与肿瘤分期、是否绝经、HER-2及Ki-67表达情况无关。乳腺癌淋巴结转移组、三阴性乳腺癌组中E-cad阳性表达者5年生存率优于E-cad阴性表达者,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 E-cad表达与乳腺癌淋巴结转移关系密切,其亦可成为乳腺癌伴淋巴结转移者或三阴性乳腺癌预后的判断指标。     

p27蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及预后关系

目的 :探讨p2 7蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其与预后的关系。方法 :采用免疫组化方法检测 60例乳腺癌组织p2 7蛋白的表达 ,分析与临床病理学特征的关系。结果 :p2 7在乳腺癌中的高表达率为61 67% (37 60 ) ,低表达率为 38.33% (2 3 60 )。p2 7低表达与乳腺癌肿瘤直径、分期、淋巴结转移、远处转移、预后差相关。结论 :p2 7蛋白的检测对鉴定无淋巴结转移但预后较差的乳腺癌患者 ,指导术后辅助治疗具有一定的意义     

MTS1及E-cadherin的表达与乳腺癌转移的关系

背景与目的:乳腺癌患者主要死于远处转移,目前还没有一种预测和早期诊断乳腺癌转移的方法。本研究旨在观察多肿瘤抑制基因(multipletumorsuppressor1,MTS1/p16)及上皮型钙粘附素(E-cadherin)的表达与乳腺癌转移的关系。方法:应用免疫组化S-P法,检测54例乳腺癌组织中的MTS1、E-cadherin的表达。结果:MTS1在远处转移组和多于4枚局部淋巴结转移组的表达率(分别为40.7%、38.1%)均低于相应对照组(74.1%、69.7%)(P<0.05);在组织学分级Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级三组中的表达率分别为76.2%、58.8%、31.3%,三组间差异有显著性(P<0.01)。E-cadherin在远处转移组和多于4枚局部淋巴结转移组的表达率(分别为37%、23.8%)均低于相应对照组(70.4%、66.7%)(P<0.05);在组织学分级Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级三组中的表达率分别为80.9%、47.1%、25.0%,三组间差异有显著性(P<0.01)。结论:MTS1及E-cadherin与乳腺癌的浸润和转移相关。     

DNA-PKcs表达与乳腺癌临床病理特征关系的研究

目的:研究DNA依赖蛋白激酶催化亚单位(DNA-PKcs)表达与浸润性乳腺癌临床病理特征的关系。方法:应用组织芯片技术和免疫组织化学方法检测101例浸润性乳腺癌中DNA-PKcs以及ER、PR、c-erbB-2的表达情况,采用χ2检验及Spearman秩和相关检验分析结果。结果:DNA-PKcs表达与浸润性乳腺癌的肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移数量、TNM分期均呈负相关(分别为r=-0.319,P=0.001;r=-0.378,P=0.000;rs=-0.428,P=0.000);与ER表达呈正相关(rs=0.279,P=0.005);与患者年龄、肿瘤组织学分级、及PR、c-erbB-2表达的关系无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:DNA-PKcs低表达与浸润性乳腺癌的进展及淋巴结转移关系密切,有可能成为预测乳腺癌预后重要的生物学指标。     

AIB1与上皮间质转化相关蛋白在浸润性乳腺癌中的表达及其相关性

目的 探讨浸润性乳腺癌组织中乳腺癌扩增性抗原1（AIB1）与上皮间质转化（EMT）相关蛋白的表达情况及其相关性。方法 采用免疫组织化学方法检测80例浸润性乳腺癌组织、40例癌旁正常组织、40例乳腺纤维腺瘤组织中AIB1、上皮性钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）、神经性钙粘附蛋白（N-cadherin）的表达情况,分析其表达与临床病理特征的关系,并探讨AIB1与EMT相关蛋白表达的关系。结果 AIB1、E-cadherin和N-cadherin在浸润性乳腺癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为47.5％、36.3％、51.3％。AIB1表达与乳腺癌淋巴结转移、分子分型有关（P＜0.05）;E-cadherin表达与组织学分级、淋巴结转移、肿块大小及TNM分期有关（P＜0.05）;N-cadherin表达与淋巴结转移、TNM分期有关（P＜0.05）。AIB1与E-cadherin表达呈负相关（r=-0.249）,与HER-2、N-cadherin表达呈正相关（r=0.243,r=0.277）;E cadherin与ER表达呈正相关（r=0.232）。结论 在浸润性乳腺癌中,AIB1及EMT相关蛋白可能与浸润性乳腺癌的发生、发展密切相关,并且AIB1可能通过调控EMT相关蛋白的表达,在乳腺癌的侵袭、转移过程中发挥重要作用。     

DNA-PKcs表达与乳腺癌临床病理特征关系的研究

目的：研究DNA依赖蛋白激酶催化亚单位（DNA-PKcs）表达与浸润性乳腺癌临床病理特征的关系。方法：应用组织芯片技术和免疫组织化学方法检测101例浸润性乳腺癌中DNA-PKcs以及ER、PR、c-erbB-2的表达情况,采用χ2检验及Spearman秩和相关检验分析结果。结果：DNA-PKcs表达与浸润性乳腺癌的肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移数量、TNM分期均呈负相关（分别为r=-0.319,P=0.001;r=-0.378,P=0.000;rs=-0.428,P=0.000）;与ER表达呈正相关（rs=0.279,P=0.005）;与患者年龄、肿瘤组织学分级、及PR、c-erbB-2表达的关系无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论：DNA-PKcs低表达与浸润性乳腺癌的进展及淋巴结转移关系密切,有可能成为预测乳腺癌预后重要的生物学指标。     

乳腺癌淋巴道转移潜能与癌细胞中钙粘素及金属蛋白酶的关系

背景及目的:目前尚缺少有效评价乳腺癌淋巴道转移潜能的理想指标。本研究旨在通过检测上皮性钙粘素(E-cadherin,E-Cad)、神经性钙粘素(N-cadherin,N-Cad)和基质金属蛋白酶-9(matrixmetalloproteinase-9,MMP-9)基因产物在乳腺癌组织中表达的情况来探讨它们与乳腺癌浸润和转移的关系。方法:采用免疫组织化学SP方法检测E-Cad、N-Cad和MMP-9在72例乳腺浸润癌(其中淋巴结转移39例,无淋巴结转移33例)中的表达,并用多因素Cox比例风险模型分析患者的预后。结果:E-Cad表达在淋巴结转移组和无淋巴结转移组乳腺癌肿瘤细胞中的平均秩次分别为29.19,45.14,两组差异显著(P<0.001),E-Cad表达与乳腺癌转移呈负相关;N-Cad和MMP-9在淋巴结转移组乳腺癌细胞中的平均秩次分别为40.04和42.97;在无淋巴结转移组乳腺癌肿瘤细胞中的平均秩次分别为32.32和28.85。二者在淋巴结转移组与无淋巴结转移组的表达均具有显著性差异(P<0.05),与乳腺癌淋巴结转移呈正相关。E-Cad高表达者生存时间长。结论:乳腺癌的淋巴道转移与E-Cad、N-Cad和MMP-9的表达具有显著相关性,检测这几种蛋白表达将有助于判断乳腺癌的转移潜能及预后。     

nm23基因表达与乳腺癌远处转移及预后相关性的研究

目的 探讨nm23基因表达与乳腺癌远处转移的关系及其预后意义。方法 选取两组共169例乳腺癌患者,应用免疫组化和RT-PCR方法检测nm23基因表达。结果 nm23基因表达与乳腺癌远处转移及腋淋巴结转移呈显著负相关,与生存率呈正相关,第1组病例发生远处转移的9例腋淋巴结阴性患者中,7例为nm23蛋白低表达;而29例未发生远处转移的腋淋巴结阳性患者中,nm23蛋白中表达及高表达者为24例（82.8%),第2组发生复发和远处转移的6例患者其nm23mRNA均低表达,nm23基因表达与腋淋巴结转移,肿瘤大小均为影响预后的因素,结论 nm23基因作为一个独立的预后指标应用,厅弥补常规指标的不足,具有重要的临床应用价值。     

Expression and clinical significance of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in breast cancer and precancerous lesions简

Objective： The aim of our study was to observe the expressions and clinical Significance of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in breast cancer and precancerous lesions, and analyze the relationship between the expressions and clinicopathological features in breast cancer. Methods： Immunhistochemical UltraSensitiveTM S-P method was employed to detect the expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in 128 cases of invasive ductal carcinomas, 89 cases of ductal carcinoma in situ and 57 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia, 53 cases of usual ductal hyperplasia breast tissues were selected as a control group. The express of E-cadherin, β-catenin and their relationship with mult biological parameters including histological grade, region lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and recurrence on files were also assessed. Results： （1） The staining patterns character of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex： In UDH breast tissues, E-cadherin and a-catenin were expressed on cell membrane of ductal and acinic cells, showing cellular contour and border among cells. The abnormal expression of the three proteins occurred in breast invasive ductal carcinomas, ductal carcinoma in situ and atypical ductal hyperplasia tissues, showing cytoplasmic or nuclear staining, decrease and loss of cytomembrane staining. （2） The abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex in invasive ductal carcinomas were 53.91%, 65.63% and 81.25%, which were significantly higher than that in ductal carcinoma in situ, atypical ductal hyperplasia, usual ductal hyperplasia tissues （P 〈 0.01）. Compared with usual ductal hyperplasia breast tissues group, the abnormal expression rates of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex were significantly decreased （P 〈 0.01） in the breast cancer group. However, there was no significance of the abnormal expression rate between ductal carcinoma in situ and atypical ductal hyperplasia tissues groups （X2 = 0.76, P = 0.38; x2 = 0.14, P = 0.70; x2 = 0.81, P = 0.37; X2 = 2.19, P = 0.14） （P 〉 0.05）. （3） There was a significantly difference in the mean E-cadherin, β-catenin and E- cadherin-catenins complex frequency between estrogen receptor ＆ progesterone receptor positive IDC group and negative group, epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 （HER2/neu） positive and negative groups, Ki-67 proliferation index 〈 14% and 〉 14% groups, histological grade （I ＋ II） and grade III invasive ductal carcinomas groups, with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and recurrence groups （P 〈 0.05） and without groups （P 〈 0.05）. However, there was no difference in the mean E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex frequency between age （_〈 50 years vs 〉 50 years）, tumor diameter （〈 2 cm vs 〉 2 cm） （P 〉 0.05）. Conclusion： In breast cancer, the expressions of E-cadherin, β-catenin and E-cadherin-catenins complex are abnormally decreased and are correlated with pathology grade, differentiation disturbance and metastasis. E- cadherin and β-catenin may be as the predictors for prognosis. Combined detection may improve accuracy and sensitivity of predicting metastasis and prognosis of breast Cancer.     

Relationship between decreased expression of squamous cell carcinoma antigen 2 and E-cadherin in primary cervical cancer lesions and lymph node metastasis

Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) has been used for the management of squamous cell carcinoma, especially in order to evaluate therapeutic effects and monitor recurrence. Recent studies have shown that SCCA performs several biological functions and can influence the behavior of cancer cells. It is well known that altered expression of E-cadherin is involved in the process of cancer invasion and metastasis. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the relationship between the expression of SCCA, E-cadherin and lymph node metastasis in advanced cervical squamous cell carcinoma patients. We studied 70 patients who had undergone radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for stage IB, IIA and IIB of the disease, without pretreatments. Immunohistochemistry, using monoclonal antibodies against SCCA2 and E-cadherin, was performed to examine the relationship between SCCA2 and E-cadherin expression patterns in primary cancer lesions and lymph node metastasis. There was a significant positive relationship between the two expression patterns in primary cancer lesions (p<0.01). Both exhibited a heterogeneous expression pattern in the primary tumor which indicated a significant relationship with lymph node metastasis (p<0.01). Our data clearly show that SCCA2 expression is significantly related to E-cadherin expression and that the heterogeneous pattern of SCCA and E-cadherin in primary lesions is strongly associated with the high incidence of lymph node metastasis in cervical squamous cell carcinoma. These findings suggest that SCCA2 may be involved in cancer behavior such as metastasis, and as such can be a useful marker in predicting lymph node metastasis.     

Immunohistochemical evaluation of cadherin and catenin expression in early gastric carcinomas: correlation with clinicopathologic characteristics and Helicobacter pylori infection.

Dysfunction of E-cadherin and catenin has been linked to invasiveness and differentiation of tumors. This study aimed to characterize the expression of cadherins and catenins in early gastric carcinoma and their relationship to clinicopathologic characteristics and Helicobacter pylori infection. E-cadherin and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins were strongly expressed in normal epithelium but abnormal immunoreactivity of at least one of these four proteins was noted in 48 (90.6%) of 53 early gastric carcinomas. Only 5 cases with intestinal-type tumors had intact expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenins. Abnormal immunoreactivity in the tumor tissue was observed in 18 patients (34.0%) for E-cadherin, in 35 (66.0%) for alpha-catenin, in 20 (37.7%) for beta-catenin, and in 37 (69.8%) for gamma-catenin. In diffuse-type tumors, abnormal expression of E-cadherin (60.9 vs. 13.3%, p < 0.0005), alpha-catenin (82.6 vs. 53.3%, p < 0.05) and gamma-catenin (91.3 vs. 53.3%, p < 0.005) was more frequent than in the intestinal type. Ten tumors with lymph node metastasis showed a relatively higher frequency of abnormal expression of E-cadherin (70 vs. 25.6%, p < 0.05) but a lower frequency of abnormal expression of beta-catenin (10 vs. 44.1%, p = 0.07) than those without metastasis. No significant association was found between cadherin/catenin expression and the depth of invasion or the H. pylori status. It was concluded that abnormal expression of E-cadherin and the catenin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system occurs frequently in early gastric carcinogenesis and may play an important role in the genesis of histologic differentiation and in the mode of metastasis of early gastric carcinomas.     

Vimentin和E-cadherin蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的: 研究波形蛋白（Vimentin）和E-钙黏蛋白（E-cadherin）在人乳腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法: 回顾性分析2014 年1 月至2016 年1 月在安徽医科大学附属巢湖医院接受乳腺癌根治术的56 例乳腺癌组织和相应癌旁组织标本以及病历资料,用免疫组织化学染色法和qPCR 分别检测癌组织中Vimentin、E-cadherin 蛋白和mRNA的表达,分析Vimentin 和E-cadherin蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达与临床病理特征的关系。用Logistic 多因素回归分析影响Vimentin 和E-cadherin 蛋白表达的独立因素,用Spearman 分析Vimentin 与E-cadherin 蛋白表达的相关性,用Kaplan-Meier 分析Vimentin 和E-cadherin 蛋白表达与预后的关系,用ROC曲线分析Vimentin 和E-cadherin 蛋白表达对预后的诊断。结果: 56 例乳腺癌组织中Vimentin 和E-cadherin 蛋白高表达率分别为76.79%和19.64%;其中47 例（47/56,83.93%）乳腺癌组织中Vimentin mRNA 的表达量显著高于癌旁组织（P<0.05）,46 例（46/56,82.14%）乳腺癌组织中E-cadherin mRNA的表达量显著低于癌旁组织（P<0.05）。Vimentin 蛋白表达与肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、脉管侵袭、组织学分级、临床分期、分子分型、Ki67 阳性、ER阴性、PR阴性及HER2 阴性表达均有关（均P<0.05）;E-cadherin 蛋白表达与淋巴结转移、脉管侵袭、组织学分级、临床分期、分子分型、Ki67 阳性、ER阴性、PR阴性及HER2 阴性表达均有关（均P<0.05）。肿瘤大小、淋巴结转移、脉管侵袭、组织学分级、临床分期、分子分型、Ki67 阳性、ER阴性、PR阴性及HER2 阴性表达均是促进Vimentin 和E-cadherin 表达的独立影响因素（P<0.05）,且Vimentin 与E-cadherin 蛋白表达呈负相关关系（P<0.05）。Vimentin 蛋白高表达的患者3 年生存率为67.44%,E-cadherin 蛋白低表达的患者3 年生存率为68.89%。结论: 在乳腺癌组织中Vimentin高表达和E-cadherin低表达与乳腺癌发生发展、侵袭转移及患者预后有关,可作为临床诊断与预后的评价指标。     

hRad17在浸润性乳腺癌中的表达及临床病理意义

目的：探讨hRad17蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及其意义。方法：采用免疫组化S—P二步法检测90例浸润性乳腺癌、20例良性乳腺组织中hRad17蛋白的表达情况,并分析其临床病理意义。结果：hRad17在浸润性乳腺癌组织及良性乳腺组织中表达分别为62．2％、10％,差异有显著意义（P〈0。05）。浸润性乳腺癌组织中hRad17蛋白表达与浸润性乳腺癌的病理分级及淋巴结转移呈正相关（P〈0．05）,与Ki-67亦呈正相关（P〈0．05）,与p53、ER、PR及C—erbB-2表达等无相关性。结论：hRad17蛋白表达在乳腺癌的发生、演变过程中起重要作用。并提示浸润性乳腺癌的不良预后,可作为预测腺癌预后的参考指标之一。     

LGR5和E-cadherin在胃癌组织中的表达及临床意义

目的 探讨富含亮氨酸重复序列G蛋白偶联受体5（leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5,LGR5）和 E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）在胃癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法 收集2014年8月—2016年5月在中南大学湘雅医学院附属株洲医院手术切除的115例胃癌组织及相应20例癌旁正常组织标本。采用免疫组化SP法检测LGR5和E-cadherin的表达水平,分析LGR5与E-cadherin表达的相关性及其与胃癌患者临床病理特征和预后的关系。结果 LGR5和E-cadherin在胃癌组织中阳性表达率分别为62.6%和53.9%,与癌旁正常组织相比,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;LGR5和E-cadherin表达均与肿瘤大小、TNM分期、浸润深度、淋巴结转移及远处转移有关（P<0.05）;相关分析显示,LGR5与E-cadherin表达呈负相关（r=-0.318,P=0.001）。LGR5阴性表达患者的1年、3年总生存率高于阳性表达患者（P<0.001）,E-cadherin阳性表达患者的1年、3年总生存率亦高于阴性表达患者（P<0.001）;多因素Cox回归分析显示,TNM分期Ⅲ~Ⅳ期、淋巴结转移、远处转移、LGR5表达阳性及E-cadherin表达阴性是影响胃癌患者预后的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。结论 LGR5在胃癌组织中高表达而E-cadherin表达缺失,可能导致胃癌的发生发展及不良预后。     

MAGEC2, an epithelial-mesenchymal transition inducer,is associated with breast cancer metastasis

MAGEC2 is a member of melanoma antigen (MAGE) family of cancer-testis antigens and associated with tumor relapse and metastasis. Here, we investigated the expression of MAGEC2 in patients with breast cancer and its clinical effects with underlying mechanisms. The expression levels of MAGEC2 were compared between 420 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and 120 ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. Correlations between MAGEC2 expression and clinico-pathologic factors or survival of patients with IDC were analyzed. In addition, MAGEC2 expression levels in tumor tissues dissected from the primary focus and matched tumor-invaded axillary lymph nodes were analyzed in 8 breast cancer patients. The functional effects of MAGEC2 overexpression were assessed in vitro using scratch assay and transwell chamber assay. MAGEC2 expression was increased in metastatic breast cancer in comparison to the non-metastatic. MAGEC2 expression was significantly associated with ER negative expression (P = 0.037), high tumor grade (P = 0.014) and stage (P = 0.002), high incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis (P = 0.013), and distant metastasis (P = 0.004). Patients with tumor with MAGEC2 positive expression have a worse prognosis and a shorter metastasis free interval. Multivariate analyses showed that MAGEC2 expression was an independent risk factor for patient overall survival and metastasis-free survival. Breast cancer cells that overexpressed MAGEC2 had stronger migratory and invasive potential than control-treated cells. Epithelial markers (E-cadherin and cytokeratin) were down-regulated in MAGEC2-overexpressing cells compared to controls, whereas mesenchymal markers (vimentin and fibronectin) were upregulated. Our results indicate that MAGEC2 has a role in breast cancer metastasis through inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In addition, MAGEC2 is a novel independent poor prognostic factor in patients with IDC. Thus, targeting MAGEC2 may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.