AUTHOR=Zheng Hongmei , Ning Yue , Yang Yang , Zhan Yuting , Wang Haihua , Wen Qiuyuan , Peng Jinwu , Fan Songqing 

TITLE=Aberrant Expression of β-Catenin Correlates with Infiltrating Immune Cells and Prognosis in NSCLC

JOURNAL=Pathology and Oncology Research

VOLUME=Volume 27 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.por-journal.com/journals/pathology-and-oncology-research/articles/10.3389/pore.2021.1609981

DOI=10.3389/pore.2021.1609981

ISSN=1532-2807

ABSTRACT=Aims: β-catenin is a critical regulating factor of 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 significances in NSCLC. Materials and Methods: The β-catenin mRNA (CTNNB1) and protein expression data was 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. Besides, 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). Besides, β-catenin protein was negatively correlated with CD8+T cell (r=-0.128, P=0.008), neutrophil (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 tumor microenvironment by inhibiting the infiltration of CD8+ T cell and neutrophil.