[Fascin expression in human epithelial tumors and its clinical significance]

To investigate the expression of FSCN1 in human epithelial tumors and their clinical significance.

FSCN1 expression was examined immunohistochemically in specimens of human epithelial tumors, including 26 cases of lung cancer, 33 cervical cancer, 22 ovarian cancer, 38 esophageal cancer, 24 pancreatic cancer, 23 gastric cancer, 29 laryngocarcinoma, 17 primary hepatocellular carcinoma, 34 colorectal cancer, 33 breast cancer, 24 nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their corresponding normal tissues.

The positivity rates of FSCN1 expression in epithelial tissues and epithelial tumors were 6.3% (5/80) and 58.7% (178/303), respectively. FSCN1 showed higher expressions in cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, laryngocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, but lower or no expression in the corresponding normal tissues (P<0.05). In gastric cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the edges of the tumors were more strongly stained for FSCN1 than the interior of the tumor.

FSCN1 expression is significantly upregulated in human epithelial tumors in close correlation with tumor occurrence and progression.