RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Immunohistochemical analysis of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in uterine carcinosarcoma JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer JO Int J Gynecol Cancer FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 277 OP 281 DO 10.1136/ijgc-2018-000038 VO 29 IS 2 A1 Osakabe, Mitsumasa A1 Fukagawa, Daisuke A1 Sato, Chie A1 Sugimoto, Ryo A1 Uesugi, Noriyuki A1 Ishida, Kazuyuki A1 Itamochi, Hiroaki A1 Sugiyama, Toru A1 Sugai, Tamotsu YR 2019 UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/29/2/277.abstract AB Objective Uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) is a highly aggressive neoplasm that is composed of an intricate admixture of carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. The relationship between UCS and the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been reported. In this study, we examined how expression of E-cadherin was associated with the expression of EMT-related proteins in UCS.Methods UCS samples were histologically divided into three components: carcinomatous, transitional, and sarcomatous regions. Next, we examined the expression of E-cadherin and EMT-related proteins, including SNAI2, ZEB1, and TWIST1, in each component of the UCS using immunohistochemistry. The expression score was determined by combining the staining intensity and staining area of the target cells.Results The expression score of E-cadherin was significantly lower in transitional and sarcomatous components than in the carcinomatous component. In addition, a significant difference in the low expression score of E-cadherin between transitional and sarcomatous components (transitional > sarcomatous components) was found. There were significant differences between the expression scores of ZEB1 in the three components (sarcomatous > transitional > carcinomatous components). However, no difference in the expression of TWIST1 between the components was found. Conversely, the expression level of SNAI2 was higher in sarcomatous or transitional components than in the carcinomatous component. However, a significant difference between the transitional and sarcomatous components was not detected.Conclusion These results suggest that the EMT plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of UCS.