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Gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTNs) do not display epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features

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Abstract

Although epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been described in the development of complete hydatidiform moles and the invasion of the maternal decidua by trophoblasts during normal human placentation, its implication in gestational trophoblastic neoplasm (GTN) without villi is totally unknown. We studied the immunoexpression of EMT transcription factors (TWIST1, ZEB1, ZEB2), E-cadherin, and vimentin in 18 trophoblastic tumors and pseudo-tumors. Weak nuclear TWIST1 immunostaining was seen in 5% to 10% of all trophoblastic cells, without ZEB1 and ZEB2 nuclear staining. Trophoblastic cells did not express vimentin, and the expression of E-cadherin was maintained in all cases, indicating the absence of EMT features in GTN.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 165 Chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69495, Pierre Bénite, France

    Estelle Dubruc, Fabienne Allias & Mojgan Devouassoux-Shisheboran

  2. Université de Lyon, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286 Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Equipe labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer, Université Claude Bernard Lyon I, 28 rue Laennec, 69373, Lyon CEDEX 08, France

    Anne Pierre Morel, Alain Puisieux & Mojgan Devouassoux-Shisheboran

  3. Department of Gynecology, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 165 Chemin du Grand Revoyet, 69495, Pierre Bénite, France

    François Golfier

Authors
  1. Estelle Dubruc
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  2. Fabienne Allias
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  3. Anne Pierre Morel
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  4. François Golfier
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  5. Alain Puisieux
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  6. Mojgan Devouassoux-Shisheboran
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mojgan Devouassoux-Shisheboran.

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The study was approved by the ethical committee of Hospices Civils de Lyon.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dubruc, E., Allias, F., Morel, A.P. et al. Gestational trophoblastic neoplasms (GTNs) do not display epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features. Virchows Arch 475, 121–125 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-019-02551-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-019-02551-7

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