Telomerase and N-Cadherin Differential Importance in Adrenocortical Cancers and Adenomas

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Pereira, SS (Author) ICBAS; Maximo, V (Author) FMUP; Coelho, R (Author) Other; Batista, R (Author) Other; Soares, P (Author) FMUP; Susana Guerreiro (Author) FCNAUP; Sobrinho Simoes, M (Author) Other; Monteiro, M (Author) ICBAS; D Pignatelli (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry

Vol. 118 No. 2

Pages: 2064-2071

ISSN: 0730-2312

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00N-F9Q

DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25811

Abstract (EN): Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are most frequently highly aggressive tumors. We assessed the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and N-cadherin role in the biology of ACC and their potential utility as molecular biomarkers, in different types of tumoral adrenocortical tissue. A total of 48 adrenal cortex samples (39 tumoral and 9 normal adrenal glands) were studied. TERT promoter mutations were searched by PCR and Sanger sequencing in two hotspots positions (-124 and -146). Also, telomerase and N-cadherin expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. TERT promoter mutations were not detected in any of the samples either malignant or benign. Telomerase nuclear expression was present in 26.6% of ACC and in 45.5% of non-functioning adenomas. It was absent in benign Cushing's lesions and in normal adrenal glands. Contrarily, N-cadherin was always expressed in the cellular membranes of benign adenomas or normal adrenals but no expression was detected in the majority of ACC. Nuclear telomerase and membrane N-cadherin expression were positively correlated in ACCs. We conclude that in ACC, the loss of N-cadherin is a frequent phenomenon while the existence of TERT promoter mutations is not and nuclear telomerase expression is present in only a minority of cases. Since the loss of N-cadherin expression was identified in both high and low proliferative ACC, this marker should be considered important for diagnostic application. Our study also suggests the existence of a TERT non-canonical function in cell adhesion. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2064-2071, 2017. (c) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8