Open Access

Expression of molecules of the Wnt pathway and of E‑cadherin in the etiopathogenesis of human thymomas

  • Authors:
    • Prokop Vodicka
    • Lenka Krskova
    • Igor Odintsov
    • Ludmila Krizova
    • Eva Sedlackova
    • Jan Schutzner
    • Josef Zamecnik
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  • Published online on: January 23, 2020     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11343
  • Pages: 2413-2421
  • Copyright: © Vodicka et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The molecular pathogenesis of thymoma remains largely unknown. It has been recently demonstrated, that activation of Wnt signaling pathway leads to increased incidence of thymoma in murine models. The present study investigated the activation of molecules of the Wnt signaling pathway in human thymoma. A total of 112 thymoma cases with complete clinical and follow‑up data and 8 controls were included in the present study. Patients with thymoma and controls were examined immunohistochemically for β‑catenin and E‑cadherin. The mRNA expression levels of CTNNB1, CCND1, MYC, AXIN2 and CDH1 were analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Immunohistochemically, β‑catenin and E‑cadherin were overexpressed in neoplastic cells of all thymomas. In type A, B1 and non‑invasive type B2 thymoma, both molecules were located in the cytoplasm, in contrast to invasive type B2 and B3 thymoma, where membranous immunopositivities were observed. mRNA expression levels of genes involved in the Wnt pathway and of E‑cadherin were significantly increased in both type A and B thymoma compared with controls; increasing gradually from type B1 to B3, and with higher stage of disease. In recurrent type B thymoma, the mRNA expression of the molecules was significantly higher. Despite the activation of Wnt pathway in indolent type A thymoma, the negative feedback of the pathway was preserved by overexpression of inhibitory molecule axin2, which was not overexpressed in type B thymoma. In summary, the Wnt pathway was activated in human thymoma and may contribute to oncogenesis. Detection of molecules of the Wnt pathway may be of diagnostic and prognostic value.
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March-2020
Volume 19 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Vodicka P, Krskova L, Odintsov I, Krizova L, Sedlackova E, Schutzner J and Zamecnik J: Expression of molecules of the Wnt pathway and of E‑cadherin in the etiopathogenesis of human thymomas. Oncol Lett 19: 2413-2421, 2020
APA
Vodicka, P., Krskova, L., Odintsov, I., Krizova, L., Sedlackova, E., Schutzner, J., & Zamecnik, J. (2020). Expression of molecules of the Wnt pathway and of E‑cadherin in the etiopathogenesis of human thymomas. Oncology Letters, 19, 2413-2421. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11343
MLA
Vodicka, P., Krskova, L., Odintsov, I., Krizova, L., Sedlackova, E., Schutzner, J., Zamecnik, J."Expression of molecules of the Wnt pathway and of E‑cadherin in the etiopathogenesis of human thymomas". Oncology Letters 19.3 (2020): 2413-2421.
Chicago
Vodicka, P., Krskova, L., Odintsov, I., Krizova, L., Sedlackova, E., Schutzner, J., Zamecnik, J."Expression of molecules of the Wnt pathway and of E‑cadherin in the etiopathogenesis of human thymomas". Oncology Letters 19, no. 3 (2020): 2413-2421. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11343