title: E-cadherin expression in colorectal cancer. An immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization study.
abstract: Expression of the epithelial-specific adhesion molecule E-cadherin has been assessed in paraffin-embedded tissue from a series of 72 colorectal carcinomas. Using immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization it was found that E-cadherin expression was related inversely to tumor differentiation. Out of 44 well- and moderately differentiated tumors, 36 expressed good positivity, whereas 24 of 28 poorly differentiated tumors were E-cadherin-negative. Classification by Dukes stage revealed a highly significant difference (P << 0.001) between A and B (32 positive, four negative) and C1 and C2 (seven positive, 29 negative) stages in terms of immunoreactivity. Of the 32 lymph node metastases studied, 20 were negative for E-cadherin expression, as were seven of eight liver metastases. These results indicate that the down-regulation of E-cadherin levels in vivo is associated with the dedifferentiation, progression, and metastasis of colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Imperial Cancer Research Fund Colorectal Cancer Unit, St. Mark's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dorudi
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sheffield
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulsom
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Northover
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Hart
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger