Expression of E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin proteins and their significance in synovial sarcoma

Purpose To investigate the expression of E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin that were epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related proteins in synovial sarcoma and their significance.Methods Immunohistochemical technique(EnVision method) was used to assess the expression levels of E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin in 34 cases of synovial sarcoma,including 24 cases of biphasic synovial sarcomas(BSSs) and 10 cases of monophasic fibrous synovial sarcomas(MFSSs).Results The positive expression rates of E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin were 52.9%,76.5% and 97.1%,respectively.E-cadherin expression in BSSs was 70.8%,which was higher than that of 10% in MFSSs(P0.05).In BSSs and in MFSSs,the positive expression rates of N-cadherin were 70.8%(17/24) and 90%(9/10) while β-catenin was 95.8%(23/24) and 100%(24/24),respectively.The expression levels of both N-cadherin and β-catenin had no significant difference(P0.05).The expression rates of E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin in spindle cells were12.5%(3/24),50%(12/24) and 62.5%(15/24) in 24 cases of BSSs,while those in 10 cases of MFSSs of those were 10%(1/10),80%(8/10) and 100%(10/10),rspectively.The expression level of β-catenin in spindle cells in MFSSs was significantly higher than that in BSSs.In 24 cases of BSSs,the expression rates of E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin in epithelial cells were 70.8%(17/24),83.3%(20/24) and 95.8%(23/24),while those in spindle cells of those were 12.5%(3/24),50%(12/24) and 62.5%(15/24),respectively(P0.05).In BSSs,the simultaneous expression rates of E-cadherin and N-cadherin,and E-cadherin and β-catenin were higher.In MFSSs,negative E-cadherin and high-expression of N-cadherin or β-catenin were commonly found.The expression in different age,tumor size,histological grade and clinical stage were not significantly different(P0.05).Conclusions E-,N-cadherin and β-catenin might involve in the cell differentiation of synovial sarcoma.The underlying mechanism of N-cadherin or β-catenin influencing the expression of E-cadherin might be different between BSSs and MFSSs.The development of synovial sarcoma might undergo MET process.It would be helpful to explore the molecular mechanisms of invasion and metastasis in synovial sarcoma.