舌鳞状细胞癌上皮—间质转化与血管生成拟态的关系及意义

Significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and its relation with vasculogenic mimicry in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma

目的初步探讨舌鳞状细胞癌(TSCC)上皮-间质转化(EMT)与血管生成拟态(VM)的关系及意义。方法对65例TSCC组织及相应癌旁正常组织采用免疫组化检测EMT标记物E-cadherin和Vimentin的表达情况,同时CD34联合PAS双重染色检测VM情况。结果 Vimentin在癌和癌旁正常上皮的阳性表达率分别是41.54%和0%,差异具有统计学意义(Z=-5.815,P=0.000),Vimentin表达与肿瘤组织分化、临床分期及有无淋巴结转移密切相关。E-cadherin在TSCC和癌旁正常上皮的阳性表达率分别是阳性率56.92%和100%,差异具有统计学意义(Z=-5.951,P=0.000),E-cadherin表达与临床分期及有无淋巴结转移密切相关。VM在TSCC和癌旁正常组织的出现的例数比率是33.14%和0%,差异具有统计学意义(Z=-3.946,P=0.000),VM与肿瘤临床分期及有无淋巴结转移密切相关。相关分析显示,E-cadherin与Vimentin具有负相关关系(r=-0.507,P=0.000),Vimentin表达与VM具有正相关关系(r=0.592,P=0.000),VM与E-cadherin具有负相关关系(r=-0.518,P=0.000)。结论 TSCC中存在EMT及VM,存在EMT和VM的TSCC具有更高临床分期和容易发生淋巴结转移,两者具有密切相关性,对TSCC侵袭、转移具有重要作用。

Objectives To study the existence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT）and vasculogenic mimicry（VM）in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma（TSCC）and to elucidate the relationship between the EMT and VM. Methods Vimentin and E-cadherin were detected in 65 cases of TSCC and the adjacent normal tissue with immunohistochemistry. The presence of VM was detected with double stain of CD34 and PAS. The clinical significance of EMT and VM were then analyzed statistically.Results The positive rates of Vimentin in normal epithelial tissue and TSCC were 0% and 41.54%,respectively,with a significant difference between the two groups（Z =-5.815,P = 0.000）. Vimentin was closely correlated with tumor grade,clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis in TSCC. The positive rates of E- cadherin expression in normal epithelial and TSCC were 100% and 56.92%,respectively,with a significant difference between the two groups（Z =- 5.951,P = 0.000）. The expression of E- cadherin protein was closely correlated with clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis in TSCC. The positive rates of VM in normal tissue and TSCC were 0% and 33.14%,respectively,with a significant difference between the two groups（Z =-3.946,P = 0.000）. The VM was closely correlated with clinical stages and lymphatic metastasis in TSCC. Bivariate analysis showed that E-cadherin was negatively correlated with Vimentin（r =- 0.507,P = 0.000）. Vimentin was positively correlated with vasculogenic mimicry（r = 0.592,P =0.000）,and E-cadherin was negatively correlated with vasculogenic mimicry（r =-0.518,P = 0.000）.Conclusions VM and EMT exist in TSCC and correlated with the lymphatic metastasis. VM was closely correlated with EMT,both of them had significant predictive value for the prognosis of NPC. The cancer with VM and EMT had stronger ability of metastasis and higher clinical stage. The EMT was closely correlated with VM,both of them have a important role in invasion and metastasis.