Expression of Wnt5a,β-catenin and E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance

Purpose To analyze the expression of Wnt-5a,β-catenin and E-cadherin in hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs).Methods Thirty HCCs(including 10 autopsy cases) were examined Wnt-5a,β-catenin,E-cadherin,and Ki-67 by ABC or EnVision immunohistochemicial method.Results Loss of Wnt-5a protein expression,evident in 83% of the HCCs(n=25),was significantly associated with higher tumor stage(P=0.010),low membranous expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin(P=0.025 and P=0.003,respectively),and high Ki-67 LIs(P=0.013).Reduced membranous β-catenin expression was significantly associated with low E-cadherin expression(P=0.047) in HCC.Low E-cadherin expression was observed in 24 of 30 (80%) tumors that associated with the higher tumor stage(P=0.048),high Ki-67 LIs(P=0.042),and metastasis in autopsy group(P=0.033).Conclusions The cytoplasmic loss of Wnt-5a protein is a frequent progression event in HCC and associated with abnormal expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin.Our data support the notion that Wnt-5a retains tumor suppressor function and may be a useful indicator of prognosis in HCC.