%A Zheng,Hongmei %A Ning,Yue %A Yang,Yang %A Zhan,Yuting %A Wang,Haihua %A Wen,Qiuyuan %A Peng,Jinwu %A Fan,Songqing %D 2021 %J Pathology and Oncology Research %C %F %G English %K biomarker,NSCLC,β-catenin,Tumor microenvironment,tumor immunity %Q %R 10.3389/pore.2021.1609981 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2021-October-26 %9 Original Research %# %! β-catenin correlates with infiltrating immune cells and prognosis in NSCLC %* %< %T Aberrant Expression of β-Catenin Correlates with Infiltrating Immune Cells and Prognosis in NSCLC %U https://www.por-journal.com/articles/10.3389/pore.2021.1609981 %V 27 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1532-2807 %X Aims: β-catenin is a critical regulating factor of the Wnt pathway, which is closely linked to tumorigenesis, tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor immunity. Our study focused on exploring the relationship between β-catenin and clinicopathological features, prognosis, as well as infiltrating immune cells and immune scores, so as to illustrate its clinical significance in NSCLC.Materials and Methods: The β-catenin mRNA (CTNNB1) and protein expression data were downloaded from the UALCAN and the UCSC Xena website, respectively. All tumor-immune infiltrating cells’ data were downloaded from the TIMER platform and immune scores were downloaded from ESTIMATE website. The expression of β-catenin protein in our cohort was measured by immunohistochemistry.Results: β-catenin mRNA level was higher in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) compared to normal tissues (p < 0.001) and was related to overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001) and post-progression survival (PPS) (both p = 0.049) in LUAD. Aberrant β-catenin protein expression was higher in male and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients (both p = 0.001). Also, it was considered to be a prognosis factor independently (p = 0.034). In addition, β-catenin protein was negatively correlated with CD8+T cells (r = −0.128, p = 0.008), neutrophils (r = −0.198, p < 0.001), immune score (r = −0.109, p = 0.024), stromal score (r = −0.097, p = 0.045), and ESTIMATE score (r = −0.113, p = 0.020).Conclusions: Aberrant β-catenin protein expression was evidently higher in NSCLC and might serve as a biomarker for poor prognosis. Most importantly, β-catenin protein might play an important part in tumor immunity and the tumor microenvironment by inhibiting the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and neutrophils.