L-CAM expression in normal, premalignant, and malignant colon mucosa.
L-CAM is a cell adhesion molecule which is expressed at the intercellular borders of most epithelial cells. L-CAM has been demonstrated to act as an invasion suppressor in carcinoma cell lines. In order to determine whether or not L-CAM expression might distinguish between invasive and non-invasive or metastatic and non-metastatic colon neoplasms, we studied L-CAM expression in normal colon mucosa, colon adenomas with various degrees of dysplasia, and colon carcinomas by immunohistochemistry, using the 6F9 monoclonal anti-L-CAM antibody. Normal mucosa showed evenly distributed distinct L-CAM immunoreactivity along intercellular borders. In adenomas and carcinomas, a similar though weaker expression was observed. This pattern showed a tendency to decrease in parallel with decreasing differentiation. However, no correlation was found with Dukes stage or area within the tumour. In some carcinomas, L-CAM was expressed at the luminal surface of the cells. In others, L-CAM expression was not found. These results suggest that L-CAM expression is disregulated or lost as an early event in the development of colon neoplasia and indicate that L-CAM expression does not correlate with invasive or metastatic potential.
van der Wurff
A A
AA
Department of Pathology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
ten Kate
J
J
van der Linden
E P
EP
Dinjens
W N
WN
Arends
J W
JW
Bosman
F T
FT
D000236:Adenoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D003902:Detergents; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D017830:Octoxynol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011127:Polyps / Q000737:chemistry; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D003902:Detergents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017830:Octoxynol