[Expression and significance of aPKC-iota and E-cadherin in cholangiocarcinoma]

Studies showed that the abnormal expression of atypical protein kinase C iota subtype (aPKC-iota) and E-cadherin plays an important role in tumor genesis and progression. This study was to investigate the expression of aPKC-iota and E-cadherin in cholangiocarcinoma, and analyze molecular mechanisms of the invasion and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma.

The expression of aPKC-iota and E-cadherin in 9 specimens of benign bile duct tissues and 35 specimens of cholangiocarcinoma was detected by EnVision immunohistochemistry, and their correlations to the clinicopathologic characteristics and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed.

The positive rate of aPKC-iota was significantly higher in cholangiocarcinoma than in benign bile duct tissues (68.6% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.006), while the positive rate of E-cadherin was significantly lower in cholangiocarcinoma than in benign bile duct tissues (37.1% vs. 88.9%, P = 0.016). aPKC-iota expression was negatively correlated to E-cadherin expression (r = -0.287, P < 0.05). aPKC-iota expression was positively and E-cadherin expression was negatively correlated to the differentiation and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma (P < 0.05).

The expression of aPKC-iota and E-cadherin may reflect the differentiation and invasive potential of cholangiocarcinoma. As a polar regulation-associated protein, aPKC-iota may play a role in the invasion and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma.