title: Clinicopathologic evaluation of immunohistochemical E-cadherin expression in human gastric carcinomas.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanase
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatsumi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins