Clinicopathologic evaluation of immunohistochemical E-cadherin expression in human gastric carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
E-cadherin plays a crucial role in cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. Recent studies have shown a correlation between decreased E-cadherin expression and cancer cell detachment.


METHODS
The expression of E-cadherin was immunohistochemically analyzed using antihuman E-cadherin antibody in 121 cases of human gastric carcinoma.


RESULTS
In noncancerous areas, the epithelial cells, including those with intestinal metaplasia, were stained positively in the plasma membrane. In contrast, E-cadherin expression of the cancer cells varied from case to case in primary and secondary sites. Tumors with a decrease in E-cadherin occurred significantly more frequently in undifferentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05) and scirrhous type (P < 0.01). The rate of E-cadherin-negative tumors was higher in patients with peritoneal metastasis (P < 0.01) or in those with distant lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), though the tumors with liver metastasis had relatively positive E-cadherin expression. Patterns of initial recurrence had similar results. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin expression correlated with shorter survival in patients after curative operation regardless of stage of disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreased E-cadherin expression correlates with dedifferentiation, infiltrative tumor growth, distant metastasis, and poor survival for patients with gastric carcinoma. Thus, immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin may have clinicopathologic value for patients with gastric carcinoma.
Shino
Y
Y
First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
Watanabe
A
A
Yamada
Y
Y
Tanase
M
M
Yamada
T
T
Matsuda
M
M
Yamashita
J
J
Tatsumi
M
M
Miwa
T
T
Nakano
H
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002293:Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D015996:Survival Rate
D015820:Cadherins