Is sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma an example of epithelial -- mesenchymal transition?
E- to N-cadherin switching, dissociation of β-catenin from the membrane, and increased expression of Snail and SPARC in SC indicate that SRCC is an example of EMT. High expression of N-cadherin and Snail in CC suggest early involvement in initiating EMT. Once EMT is established, loss of E-cadherin, release of β-catenin into the cytoplasm, and expression of SPARC correspond with mesenchymal phenotypic expression.
These results suggest that chronic systemic low-grade inflammation induces persistent DNA damage in alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells before architectural changes in the lung become evident.