Expression and significance of twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Twist, a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, has been reported to play a key role in the metastatic progression of several types of cancer.

AIMS: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of Twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).

METHODS: The expression of Twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in GISTs was determined by immunohistochemistry, and their relationship with clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTS: The positive rates of Twist, E-cadherin, and N-cadherin in GISTs were 66.7 % (52/78), 35.9 % (28/78), and 75.6 % (59/78), respectively. Twist was expressed significantly more in GISTs with distant metastasis or local invasion (p < 0.05). Although E-cadherin was expressed significantly less in cases of GISTs with distant metastasis (p < 0.05), expression of N-cadherin did not differ significantly according to clinical and pathological characteristics (p > 0.05). Expression of Twist was correlated positively with E-cadherin (rs = -0.253, p = 0.026) and negatively with N-cadherin (rs = 0.245, p = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONS: Twist was expressed significantly more and E-cadherin significantly less in GISTs with metastasis, and expression of both was closely related to metastasis of GISTs.