Expression of Connexin 43 and E-cadherin Protein and mRNAin Non-small Cell Lung Cancers in Chinese Patients

Abstract

Aim: Connexin 43 (Cx43) and E-cadherin are important biomarkers related with cancer. Their expression atprotein and mRNA levels was here investigated in 50 primary lung carcinoma tissues and 20 samples of adjacentnormal tissue of Chinese patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). <br/><b>Methods</b>: Protein and mRNAexpression were evaluated by ABC immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. <br/><b>Results</b>: (1) The positive expressionrates of Cx43 and E-cadherin protein were higher in the adjacent normal tissues than those in the primary lungcarcinoma tissues; (2) the positive expression rates of Cx43 and E-cadherin protein decreased with NSCLCprogression; (3) the expression of E-cadherin protein was not related with the pathological type of NSCLC; and(4) the relative quantity of the Cx43 or E-cadherin mRNA expression was correlated with the the histologicaltype, clinical stage, cancer cell differentiation and the lymph node metastasis. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: The data suggestedthat the Cx43 and E-cadherin are reduced with NSCLC progression, and might be important biomarkers forjudging the metastasis and prognosis.