Prognostic impact of EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal-transition)-related protein expression in endometrial cancer

Objectives: The epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) is an important step in the invasion and metastasis of cancer. A critical molecular feature of this process is the downregulation of E-cadherin expression, which is mainly controlled by Snail-related zinc-finger transcription factors (Snail and Slug). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of EMT-related protein (E-cadherin, Snail and Slug) expression in endometrial cancer.Methods: An immunohistochemical analysis was conducted using tissue microarray samples of 354 primary tumors and 30 metastases of endometrial carcinomas, and the relationship between protein expression, clinicopathological features and outcomes were investigated.Results: Reduced E-cadherin was seen in 39.8% of primary tumors. Reduced E-cadherin was seen in 19.5%, 40.8% and 72.7% of G1, G2 and G3 endometrioid adenocarcinomas, respectively. The nuclear expression of Snail and Slug were positive in 16.9% and 3.7% of primary tumors, respectively. EMT status, which ...