3.5.Relationship between EMT markers and tumor stage
The status of EMT markers in the tumor, and distribution of tumor stages are summarized in Table 2. Nine Zeb1- positive tumors were in stage1 in 1 (11.1%), stage 3 in 1 (11.1%), stage 4A in 2 (22.2%), and stage 4B in 5 (55.6%) cases. A significant correlation was found between increasing tumor stage and tumor Zeb1 positivity (p=0.035). There was no statistically significant relationship between expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the tumor, Zeb1 positivity in the surrounding stroma, and αSMA density and tumor stage (p=0.802, p=0.499, p=0.102, p=0.373, respectively).