The Significance Of E-Cadherin,β-Catenin And CD44 Expression In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers

Objective: Expression of the cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin(E-cad), β -catenin( β -cat) and CD44 seems closely related to tumor invasiveness and metstasis.The relationship between the expression and clinicopathologic characteristics in non-small cell lung cancers and the relationship to patient survial was analyzed.Methods : The expression of E-cad , β -cat and CD44 was immunohistochemically measured by SP method in 53 cases of non-small cell lung cancer.The x ~2 test was used to correlate this expression with clinicopathologic parameters.Their influence on patient survival was evaluated with the COX proportional hazards model.Results:1. There was a positive expression of E-cad and β -cat in normal bronchial epithelium cells,CD44s and CD44v6 was stained in basal cells.The immuno-staining was localized at the membrance.2. The expression of E-cad and β -cat was was significantly associated with differentiated degree of NSCLC,tumor stage and lymph node matestasis (P<0.05),but there was no significant correlation between the expression of E-cad , 3 -cat and histological type(P>0.05).3. The positive rate of CD44v6 in with or without lymph node matestasis group was respectively 54.55%,22.58%.And there was a significant difference between the two groups(P=0.017);The high expression rate of CD44v6 and CD44s was detected in patients with squamous cell carcinoma more frequently than in patients with adenocarcinoms( P=0.039, P=0.014);The expression of CD44v6 and CD44s was closely correlated with tumor stage (P<0.05).Expression of CD44v6 and CD44s was independent of degree of differentiation(P>0.05).4. The expression of E-cad and 3 -cat had a striking positive correlation (P<0.01,r=0.660).And there was no positive correlation in other markers.5. The mean survival time in cases with normal E-cad and 3 -cat expression was significantly longer than that in cases with the abnormal E-cad and 3 -cat expression cases;but patients who had high level staining for CD44v6 had a poor post-operate survial than those with low level staining(/)=0.025);And there was no siginificant association between CD44s expression and the survival time; The results of the univariate analysis showed that CD44v6,E-cad and 3 -cat had a statistically significant influence on survival of NSCLC.6. The multivariate analysis using COX proportional hazards model showed that CD44v6 and tumor stage were useful prognostic indicators.(PO.01 )7. The mean survival time in cases with normal E-cad , 3 -cat expression and high level staining for CD44v6 was significantly longer than E-cad , 3 -cat abnormal expression and low expression of CD44v6 group^^ 0.007).Conclusion:1. The expression of E-cad and 3 -cat was significantly associated with differentiated degree of NSCLC and tumor progression. Expression of CD44 play an important role in tumor progression ^specially CD44v6 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis and it may be a useful maker of prognosis in NSCLC.2. The expression of E-cad and 3 -cat had a striking positive correlation3. The results of the univariate analysis showed that CD44v6,E-cad and 3 -cat had a statistically significant influence on survival of NSCLC.The multivariate analysis using COX proportional hazards model showed that CD44v6 and tumor stage were useful prognostic indicators.4. Coordinated expression of these cell adhesion molecules may be of prognostic value in patients with NSCLC.They can be used as markers of prognosis of NSCLC in clinical practice.