Background/aim: Although the knowledge regarding adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) tumorigenesis has significantly improved during the last decade, it still remains to be completely determined. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a well described transcription factor induced process, postulated as an essential step toward cancer progression and metastasis development. In this context, Twist1 has been described as the EMT master-regulator. The aim of this study was to assess the association among Twist1, fibronectin, vimentin and E-cadherin gene expression in adrenocortical tumor samples.
Materials and methods: Twist1, fibronectin, vimentin and E-cadherin gene expression in 18 adrenal adenomas, 18 ACC, and 24 childhood onset adrenocortical tumors were assessed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. The fold expression was calculated according to the 2ΔCt method.
Results: A significant correlation between mRNA levels of Twist1, fibronectin and vimentin was evident. Although their expression was inversely proportional, no association was observed between Twist1 and E-cadherin expression.
Conclusion: The expression of Twist1, the major regulator of EMT, is directly correlated to the expression of mesenchymal markers fibronectin and vimentin in ACC samples.
Keywords: Adrenocortical carcinoma; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; transcriptional factor.
Copyright© 2019, International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios), All rights reserved.