Significance of TWIST and E-cadherin expression in the metastatic progression of prostatic cancer

• Published in: Histopathology Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 648 - 658
• Main Authors: Yuen, H-F, Chua, C-W, Chan, Y-P, Wong, Y-C, Wang, X, Chan, K-W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2007; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - secondary; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Disease Progression; E-cadherin; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Gleason score; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nuclear Proteins - metabolism; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Prognosis; prostatic cancer; Prostatic Hyperplasia - metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia - metabolism; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia - secondary; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Tissue Array Analysis; Tumors of the urinary system; TWIST; Twist-Related Protein 1 - metabolism; Up-Regulation; Urinary tract. Prostate gland; Histological grading; Gleason score; Urinary system disease; Prostate disease; Cell adhesion molecule; prostatic cancer; Malignant tumor; Metastasis; E-cadherin; TWIST; Anatomic pathology; Histopathology; Tumor progression; Advanced stage; Metastatic; Male genital diseases; E Cadherin; Prostate cancer
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2007.02665.x

Aim:  Development of metastasis is one of the main causes of prostatic cancer‐related death. We have previously found that up‐regulation of TWIST, a highly conserved basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor, in prostatic cancer cells can promote epithelial to mesenchymal transition through down‐regulation of E‐cadherin. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of TWIST and to correlate TWIST and E‐cadherin expression in prostatic cancer specimens. Methods and results:  TWIST and E‐cadherin expression was studied in 115 prostatic cancer specimens, eight cases of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and 37 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia by immunohistochemistry. Increased cytoplasmic expression of TWIST was associated with malignant transformation of prostatic epithelium and histological progression of prostatic cancer, while nuclear TWIST expression was significant in predicting the metastatic potential of the primary prostatic cancer. In addition, high levels of TWIST expression were also significantly associated with aberrant E‐cadherin expression. Conclusions:  These results suggest that TWIST may serve as a prognostic marker for high‐grade prostatic cancer. In addition, up‐regulation of TWIST in combination with aberrant E‐cadherin expression in primary prostatic cancer specimens may predict development of distal metastatic disease.