Expression levels and significance of E-cadherin and Vimentin in non-small cell lung carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation between the expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin, and their subseguent prognostic in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Methods The expression of E-cadherin and Vimentin protein levels was analyzed in 94 cases of NSCLC tissues and in 80 cases of normal lung tissues, using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Correlation and survival analysis were used to further investigate their association and prognostic value. The correlation analysis using Pearson test, and Log-rank test for survival analysis. Results E-cadherin protein positive detection rate in NSCLC tissues was 41.49%, which was lower than those of the normal control that was 77.50% (χ2=26.235, P=0.000). The positive detection rate of E-cadherin was found associated with the following phenomena: no pleural invasion (χ2=7.799, P=0.005), no lymph mode metastasis (χ2=17.094, P=0.000), number of lymph node (LN) metastasis <4 (χ2=4.309, P=0.038), positive rate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) <25% (χ2=10.331, P=0.000), well and moderately differentiation (χ2=17.355, P=0.000), no vascular invasion and maximum diameter <5 cm (χ2=9.174, P=0.002). Vimentin protein positive detection rate in NSCLC tissues was 44.68%, which was higher than those of the normal control that was 7.50% (χ2=43.236, P=0.000). The positive detection rate of Vimentin was found associated with the following phenomena: pleural invasion (χ2=8.945, P=0.003), lymph mode metastasis (χ2=7.694, P=0.006), number of LN metastasis ≥4 (χ2=4.941, P=0.026), positive rate of PCNA ≥25% (χ2=5.991, P=0.014), poor differentiation (χ2=6.479, P=0.011) and vascular invasion (χ2=8.666, P=0.003). There was a negative correlation between the protein expression of Vimentin protein and E-cadherin in NSCLC (r=-0.793, P=0.000). Furthermore, It has been identified that the patients with low expression of E-cadherin and a higher expression of Vimentin has worse disease prognosis (P=0.017). Conclusion The data suggest that lower expression of E-cadherin and a higher expression of Vimentin may promote occrrence and development in NSCLC and the combined detection of E-cadherin and Vimentin may be a helpful tool in predicting the prognosis of NSCLC. Key words: Non-small cell lung carcinoma; E-cadherin; Vimentin