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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Induction and Analysis of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Published on: August 27, 2013
Clinicopathological features and epidermal growth factor receptor mutations associated with epithelial-mesenchymal
Qin-Fang Deng1, Cai-Cun Zhou, Chun-Xia Su
1Department of Oncology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Background And Objective:
Small molecular inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been extensively studied in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The discovery of molecular biomarkers that identify the subgroups of NSCLC patients benefiting from EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) has become an important area of investigation. Recent studies have suggested that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumours decreases the cellular requirements for EGFR signalling pathway, and this may provide a molecular signature to define those NSCLC patients most likely to respond to treatment with targeted EGFR TKI. This research explored the clinicopathological features and EGFR mutations associated with EMT in NSCLC.
Methods:
The EMT status in surgically resected specimens from 62 patients with NSCLC was tested by immunohistochemical staining. The frequency of tumour epithelial phenotype was calculated and the strength of the association with clinicopathological features and EGFR genotype was determined by logistic regression.
Results:
The overall frequency of the epithelial phenotype was 35.48% (22 of 62). Based on univariate analyses, the frequency of the epithelial phenotype (E-cadherin-positive) was greater for EGFR mutants versus wild types (77.78% vs 18.18%; P < 0.0001) and women versus men (54.55% vs 25%; P = 0.02). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that only the EGFR genotype (odds ratio, 0.063; 95% CI: 0.013-0.3; P = 0.0005) was significantly associated with the epithelial phenotype.
Conclusion:
In patients with NSCLC, there is a higher frequency of epithelial markers in patients with EGFR mutation.
Insights
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations show a higher frequency of epithelial markers. This finding may help identify NSCLC patients who benefit from EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors are crucial for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment.
- Identifying biomarkers for EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) response in NSCLC is critical.
- Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) may influence EGFR signaling and TKI efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between EMT, clinicopathological features, and EGFR mutations in NSCLC.
- To explore EMT as a potential biomarker for TKI treatment response in NSCLC patients.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining was used to assess EMT status in 62 NSCLC tumor specimens.
- Logistic regression analysis determined associations between epithelial phenotype, clinicopathological factors, and EGFR genotype.
Main Results:
- The epithelial phenotype was observed in 35.48% of NSCLC patients.
- A significantly higher frequency of the epithelial phenotype was found in patients with EGFR mutations (77.78%) compared to wild-type (18.18%).
- EGFR genotype was the only significant predictor of the epithelial phenotype in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Patients with NSCLC and EGFR mutations exhibit a greater prevalence of epithelial markers.
- This association suggests that epithelial markers could serve as predictive biomarkers for EGFR-TKI therapy in NSCLC.
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