Expression And Significance Of C-kit And Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition(EMT) Molecules In Thymic Epithelial Tumors(TETs)

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of c-kit and EMT molecules(E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Twist, Snail) in thymic epithelial tumors.Method By using the tissue microarray technology and immunohistochemistry Max VisionTM-use kit to detect the expression of c-kit and EMT molecular markers(Ecadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Twist) in 150 cases of paraffin sections of thymic epithelial tumor tissue, Analysis the correlation between c-kit and EMT molecules; explore the malignancy degree and clinicopathological parameters relationship between c-kit, EMT molecules and thymic epithelial tumors.Results The difference of c-kit positive expression in thymoma between the subtypes(A 9.09%, AB 2.86%, B1 5.26%, B2 5.00%, B3 8.70%) was no statistically significant(P>0.05); While the positive expression rate of thymic carcinoma 68.18%(15/22) was significantly higher than thymoma 5.47%(7/128), the difference between them was statistically significant(P<0.01). The difference of E-cad positive expression in thymoma between the subtypes(A 81.82%, AB 85.71%, B1 78.95%, B2 80.00%, B3 73.91%) was no statistically significant(P>0.05); The positive expression rate of thymoma 80.47%(103/128) was significantly higher than thymic carcinoma 22.73%(5/22), the difference between them was statistically significant(P<0.01). The difference of N-cad positive expression in thymoma between the subtypes(A 0%, AB 0%, B1 5.26%, B2 5.00%, B3 8.70%) was no statistically significant(P>0.05); The positive expression rate of thymic carcinoma 63.64%(14/22) was significantly higher than thymoma 3.91%(5/128), the difference between them was statistically significant(P<0.01). The difference of Twist positive expression in thymoma between the subtypes(A 18.18%, AB 14.29%, B1 21.05%, B2 20.00%, B3 21.74%) was no statistically significant(P>0.05); The positive expression rate of thymic carcinoma 72.73%(16/22) was significantly higher than thymoma 18.75%(24/128), the difference between them was statistically significant(P<0.01). Thedifference of Snail positive expression in thymoma between the subtypes(A 9.09%, AB 8.57%, B1 15.79%, B2 12.50%, B3 21.74%) was no statistically significant(P>0.05); The positive expression rate of thymic carcinoma 77.27%(17/22) was significantly higher than thymoma 13.28%(17/128), the difference between them was statistically significant(P<0.01). c-kit expression and E-cad expression was negatively correlated; c-kit expression and N-cad, Twist, Snail was positively correlation. E-cad expression and N-cad, Twist, Snail was negatively correlation. Ncad expression was positively correlated with Twist, Snail. Twist and Snail expression was positively correlated.Conclusion 1. The expression of c-kit, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Twist and Snail in each tissue subtype of thymoma were no significantly differences; While their expression between thymic carcinoma and thymoma were statistically significant, suggesting that these five indicators may help to determine the malignant degree of thymic epithelial tumors. 2. The expression of c-kit and E-cad was negatively correlated while the expression of c-kit with N-cad, Twist and Snail was positively correlated, suggesting that overexpression of c-kit may promote the EMT process of thymic epithelial tumors. 3. The expression of Twist and Snail was positively correlated, suggesting that Twist and Snail may have a synergistic effect, both of them combined expression can better promote tumor metastasis.