Snail在乳腺癌中的表达及其与上皮-间质转化的关系

Correlation of Snail expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast carcinomas

目的研究Snail蛋白在乳腺癌组织中的表达,并探讨Snail蛋白及其调控的上皮-间质转化(EMT)与乳腺癌恶性生物学行为的相关性。方法采用免疫组织化学SP法检测20例正常乳腺组织、60例乳腺癌组织(非特殊性浸润性导管癌)及其中20例乳腺癌癌旁组织中Snail蛋白、上皮标记物E-cadherin蛋白、间质标记物Vimentin蛋白的表达;分析乳腺癌组织中3种蛋白表达强度的相关性,以及Snail蛋白表达与乳腺癌淋巴结转移的关系。结果①在正常乳腺组织、乳腺癌癌旁组织、乳腺癌组织中,Snail蛋白表达逐渐递增,其阳性率分别为0、30%、53.3%;Vimentin蛋白表达亦逐渐递增,其阳性率分别为0、40%、63.3%;E-cadherin蛋白表达则逐渐减少,其阳性率分别为100%、75%、56.7%;正常乳腺组织、乳腺癌癌旁组织与乳腺癌组织间3种蛋白的表达差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。②Snail蛋白表达与Vimentin蛋白表达呈显著正相关(r=0.536、P=0.000);Snail蛋白表达与E-cadherin蛋白表达呈负相关(r=-0.413、P=0.001);3种组织中,E-cadherin和Vimentin蛋白两者的表达差异呈显著负相关(r=-0.526、P=0.000)。③Snail蛋白的表达与乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移呈正相关,差异有统计学意义(r=0.600、P=0.000)。结论锌指转录因子Snail可能通过参与调控EMT过程从而在乳腺癌的发生和侵袭过程中发挥重要作用,并推动乳腺癌的远处淋巴结转移。

Objective To study the expression of Snail protein in the breast cancer tissues,and to explore the correlation analysis between the Snail protein as well as its controlling epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT）and malignant biological behavior of breast cancer.Methods Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expressions of Snail,E-cadherin（epithelial marker）,Vimentin（mesenchymal marker）protein in 60 cases of breast cancer tissues（non-specificity of invasive ductal carcinoma）,20 cases of adjacent tissue of breast cancer,and 20 cases of normal breast tissues,and then to analyze the relationship of expression intensity of Snail,E-cadherin and Vimentin protein,and the correlation of expression of Snail protein and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.Results①In normal breast tissues,adjacent tissue of breast cancer and breast cancer tissues,the positive percentages of Snail protein expression were 0,30%,53.3%respectively.With the gradual increment of Snail protein expression,the positive percentages of Vimentin protein expression were 0,40%,63.3%respectively.With the gradual increment of Vimentin protein expression,the positive percentages of E-cadherin protein expression were 100%、75%、56.7%respectively.When the expression of E-cadherin protein decreased gradually,there was a significant difference in the expression of 3 kind of proteins among normal breast tissues,adjacent tissue of breast cancer and breast cancer tissues（all P0.05）.②There were a significant positive correlation between Snail protein expression and Vimentin protein expression（r=0.536,P=0.000）,a significant negative correlation of expression difference between Snail protein and E-cadherin protein（r=-0.413,P=0.001）,a significance negative correlation between E-cadherin protein expression and Vimentin protein expression in 3 kind of tissues（r=-0.526,P=0.000）.③There was a positive correlation between Snail protein expression and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer（r=0.600,P=0.000）.Conclusion The zinc finger transcription factor Snail plays an important role in the occurrence and invasion of breast cancer by involving in regulation of EMT process,and then promoting the distant lymph node metastasis of breast cancer.