Clinical significance of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in laryngeal carcinoma: its role in the different subsites.

Clinical significance of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in laryngeal carcinoma: its role in the different subsites.

Head Neck. 2017 May 31;:

Authors: Mezi S, Chiappetta C, Carletti R, Nardini A, Cortesi E, Orsi E, Piesco G, Di Gioia C

Abstract
BACKGROUND: During epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cancer cells lose adhesion capacity gaining migratory properties. The role of the process on prognosis has been evaluated in 50 cases of laryngeal carcinoma.
METHODS: E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, α-catenin, γ-catenin, caveolin-1, and vimentin immunohistochemical expression were evaluated using a double score based on staining intensity and cellular localization.
RESULTS: Cytoplasmic E-cadherin and α/γ catenin staining were associated with a decrease in survival, cytoplasmic β-catenin was associated with advanced stage, and N-cadherin and vimentin expression were associated with poor differentiation and tumor relapse. On the basis of cancer cells, epithelial or mesenchymal morphological and immunophenotypic similarity we identified 4 main subgroups correlated with a transition to a more undifferentiated phenotype, which have a different pattern of relapse and survival.
CONCLUSION: The negative prognostic role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition has been confirmed and a predictive role in glottic tumors has been suggested, leading us to propose epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as an additional adverse feature in laryngeal carcinoma.

PMID: 28561907 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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