Naslov
Are we benign? What can Wnt signaling pathway and epithelial to mesenchymal transition tell us about intracranial meningioma progression

Autori
Bukovac, Anja ; Kafka, Anja ; Raguž, Marina ; Brlek, Petar ; Dragičević, Katarina ; Müller, Danko ; Pećina-Šlaus, Nives

Izvornik
Cancers (2072-6694) 13 (2021), 7; 1633, 23

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) ; Wnt signaling pathway ; E-cadherin ; N-cadherin ; TWIST1 ; SNAIL and SLUG ; β-catenin ; intracranial meningioma

Sažetak
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is characterized by the reduced expression of E-cadherin and increased expression of N-cadherin, plays an important role in the tumor invasion and metastasis. Classical Wnt signaling pathway has a tight link with EMT and it has been shown that nuclear translocation of β-catenin can induce EMT. This research has showed that genes that are involved in cadherin switch, CDH1 and CDH2, play a role in meningioma progression. Increased N-cadherin expression in relation to E-cadherin was recorded. In meningioma, transcription factors SNAIL, SLUG, and TWIST1 demonstrated strong expression in relation to E- and N-cadherin. The expression of SNAIL and SLUG was significantly associated with higher grades (p = 0.001), indicating their role in meningioma progression. Higher grades also recorded an increased expression of total β- catenin followed by an increased expression of its active form (p = 0.000). This research brings the results of genetic and protein analyzes of important molecules that are involved in Wnt and EMT signaling pathways and reveals their role in intracranial meningioma. The results of this study offer guidelines and new markers of progression for future research and reveal new molecular targets of therapeutic interventions.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA