Previous studies have revealed that the activation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) endows metastatic properties upon cancer cells to promote invasion and migration. In this study, immunohistochemical analysis was performed in 50 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and paired normal kidney tissues. We detected the expression of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) and EMT markers (E-cadherin, fibronectin, and Slug) and recorded the clinical, pathologic, and follow-up (median follow-up: 79.0 mo) information. The expression of VEGI and E-cadherin was significantly lower in RCC tissues compared with normal kidney tissues (P<0.001). However, the expression of fibronectin and Slug was higher in RCC tissues (P<0.05). VEGI and EMT marker expression marginally differed in tumor size and stage. Significant differences were found in the pathologic grade (P<0.05). The Spearman correlation analysis suggested a positive correlation between VEGI and E-cadherin (r=0.451, P<0.01). A negative correlation was shown between VEGI and fibronectin (r=-0.465, P<0.01). There was also a negative correlation between VEGI and Slug (r=-0.758, P<0.01). During the 79.0 months (range, 7 to 119 mo) of follow-up, 6 patients died due to RCC, and the tumor-free survival rate was 88% (44/50). We did not find a significant correlation between VEGI/EMT markers (E-cadherin, fibronectin, and Slug) and overall survival (P>0.05). Our findings indicate that VEGI plays an important role in EMT in RCC. It suggests that VEGI may be investigated as a disease biomarker and therapeutic target in RCC.
Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM. 0000 Jan [Epub]
Qiang Zhao, Tiezhu Liu, Baoan Hong, Feng Wang, Changhua Zhou, Xin Du, Siqi Chen, Xiaohu Deng, Shayiremu Duoerkun, Qing Li, Yong Yang, Kan Gong, Ning Zhang
Department of Urology, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing Institute for Cancer Research., Department of Urology, Daqing Oilfield General Hospital, Heilongjiang., Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital., Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University., School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Cellular and Structural Biology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China., Department of Urology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing., Department of Urology, Karamay People's Hospital., Department of Urology, Hami District Central Hospital, Xinjiang.