BACKGROUND: The abnormal expression of atypical protein kinase C-ι (aPKC-ι) subtype and E-cadherin play important roles in tumor occurrence and progression This study was designed to investigate the correlation of expression of aPKC-ι and E-cadherin with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma, and to analyze the molecular mechanisms of invasion and metastasis of the tumor. METHODS: EnVision immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aPKC-ι and E-cadherin in 9 specimens of benign bile duct tissues, 35 specimens of cholangiocarcinoma and 6 specimens of metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. The relationship of the expression with clinicopathological characteristics, invasion and prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma was analyzed. A multivariate regression analysis was made of these data by the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The positive expression level of aPKC-ι in cholangiocarcinoma was remarkably higher than that in benign bile duct tissues (68.6% vs. 11.1%, P=0.006) but the expression level of E-cadherin was lower in cholangiocarcinoma than in benign bile duct tissues (37.1% vs. 88.9%, P=0.016). Correlation analysis revealed that the expression of aPKC-ι was positively related to tumor differentiation and invasion, whereas that of E-cadherin was entirely the contrary. Moreover, there wasa negative relationship between the expression of aPKC-ι and that of E-cadherin (r=-0.287, P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the overall survival rate of the group with a higher expression of aPKC-ι in cholangiocarcinoma was remarkably lower than that of the group with a lower expression (P<0.01); multivariate analysis revealed that the expressions of aPKC-ι and E-cadherin are important prognostic factors for cholangiocarcinoma (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of aPKC-ι and E-cadherin may reflect the differentiation and invasive potential of cholangiocarcinoma. aPKC-ι and E-cadherin may be independent prognostic factors and, when used in combination with clin
Qiang Li, Jian-Ming Wang, Cong Liu, Bao-Lai Xiao, Jin-Xi Lu and Sheng-Quan ZouAuthor Affiliations: Department of General Surgery , and Department of Pathology , Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
Objective: To investigate the expressions of atypical protein kinase C ι subtype (aPKC-ι) and E-cadherin in chol- angiocarcinoma, and analyze molecular mechanisms of the invasion and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma. Methods: The expressions of aPKC-ι and E-cadherin in 9 specimens of benign bile duct tissues and 35 specimens of cholangiocarcinoma were detected by EnVision immunohistochemistry, and their correlations to the clinicopathologic characteristics and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed. Results: The positive rate of aPKC-ι was significantly higher in cholangiocarcinoma than in benign bile duct tissues (68.6% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.006), while the positive rate of E-cadherin was significantly lower in cholangiocarcinoma than in benign bile duct tissues (37.1% vs. 88.9%, P = 0.016). aPKC-ι expression was negatively cor- related to E-cadherin expression (r = -0.287, P < 0.05). aPKC-ι expression was positively and E-cadherin expression was negatively correlated to the differentiation and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The expressions of aPKC-ι and E-cadherin may reflect the differentiation and invasive potential of cholangiocarcinoma. As a polar regulation-as- sociated protein, aPKC-ι may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma.
Qiang LiJianming WangCong LiuBaolai XiaoYing SuShengquan Zou
