Immunohisochemical evaluation of EMT regulators, E- and N-cadherin in neuroendocrine Tumors of the Gastro-Entero-Pancreativ system

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Introduction: Local tumor invasion represents the first step of the metastatic cascade of carcinomas, and requires changes in cell adhesion and migration properties of tumor cells. This biologic process is known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). One key biochemical change associated with EMT is the loss of E-cadherin expression promoted by specific transcriptional repressors such as Snail, Slug, and Twist. Overexpression of EMT inducers increases other factors, such as FoxC2, although its role in EMT is poorly understood. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) system, originated from the diffuse endocrine system, represent a heterogeneous group of tumors. Their prevalence has increased substantially over the past three decades, without substantial improvements in their clinical management, and their variable clinical course cannot be predicted by common clinicopathological parameters. Thus, new prognostic markers are urgently needed.

Aim(s): To elucidate the role of Twist, FoxC2, E-cadherin and N-cadherin as indicators of EMT in GEP-NETs.

Materials and methods: The study population consisted of 65 patients and their paraffin-embedded samples (included in four tissue arrays). The patients were diagnosed with GEP-NETs between 2000 and 2008. FoxC2, Twist, E- and N-cadherin expression were immunohistochemically evaluated. Tumors included: 20 well-differentiated endocrine carcinomas, 24 poorly differentiated endocrine carcinomas, 11 well differentiated endocrine tumors (benign behavior) and 10 well-differentiated endocrine tumors (uncertain malignancy).

Conference: 7th Annual ENETSConcerence (2010)

Presenting Author:

Authors: GALVÁN J, GONZÁLEZ-MEANA M, FOLGUERAS M, ASTUDILLO A,

Keywords: gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, Twist, FoxC2, N-cadherin, E-cadherin, EMT,

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