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=27

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=<p><bold>Aims:</bold> 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.</p><p><bold>Materials and Methods:</bold> The β-catenin mRNA (<italic>CTNNB1</italic>) 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.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> β-catenin mRNA level was higher in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) compared to normal tissues (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and was related to overall survival (OS) (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and post-progression survival (PPS) (both <italic>p =</italic> 0.049) in LUAD. Aberrant β-catenin protein expression was higher in male and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients (both <italic>p</italic> = 0.001). Also, it was considered to be a prognosis factor independently (<italic>p</italic> = 0.034). In addition, β-catenin protein was negatively correlated with CD8<sup>+</sup>T cells (r = −0.128, <italic>p</italic> = 0.008), neutrophils (r = −0.198, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), immune score (r = −0.109, <italic>p</italic> = 0.024), stromal score (r = −0.097, <italic>p</italic> = 0.045), and ESTIMATE score (r = −0.113, <italic>p</italic> = 0.020).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> 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.</p>