Expression of E-cadherin and catenins in invasive mammary carcinomas.
E-Cadherin has been shown to be an invasion tumor suppressor gene, but few epidemiological studies have revealed relationships between loss of E-cadherin expression and invasive tumor growth and/or metastasis. The adhesive function of E-cadherin is dependent on the integrity of the catenin components which link E-cadherin to the actin filaments. In order to achieve a better correlation between the loss of cell adhesion and metastasis in cancer, we decided to investigate both E-cadherin and the catenins. 157 archival primary mammary carcinomas were immunohistochemically studied using antibodies against E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin. The following results were obtained: (a) Independent of the presence of E-cadherin, loss of expression of one or multiple catenins was noted; (b) loss of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression was more pronounced in lobular-type than ductal-type carcinomas; c) axillary lymph node metastases were completely lacking only in the group where expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta- catenin was preserved: d) no correlation between expression of c-erbB-2 and E-cadherin or one of the catenins was found. The results demonstrate for the first time that consideration of both the expression of E-cadherin and of the three catenins is useful in evaluation of the metastatic potential of mammary carcinomas.
Zschiesche
W
W
Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Schönborn
I
I
Behrens
J
J
Herrenknecht
K
K
Hartveit
F
F
Lilleng
P
P
Birchmeier
W
W
D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin; C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; C495292:JUP protein, human