Expression of cadherins in benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors: a clinicopathologic study of 60 cases.
We have analyzed the expression of E- and N-cadherins in benign, borderline, and maligant ovarian tumors, and we have correlated the pattern of cadherin expression with the standard clinicopathological parameters. An immunohistochemical technique has been applied to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples of 20 benign cystic tumors, 20 borderline tumors, and 20 cancers. Expression of E- and N-cadherins immunostaining were compared with the histological type, degree of histological differentiation, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, presence of ascites, occurrence of recurrence, and survival. E-cadherin was homogeneosuly expressed in benign tumors but was heterogeneously expressed or undetectable in most borderline and malignant tumors. In contrast, N-cadherin was detected in most benign and borderline tumors but was absent or heterogeneous in most carcinomas. The difference of expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin between the three groups of ovarian tumors was statistically significant (respectively, P = .03 and P < .001). In ovarian carcinoma, patients with negative E-cadherin staining present a significantly shorter survival. No correlation was found between cadherin expression and clinicopathological parameters in borderline tumors. Our results suggest that alterations in E-cadherin and N-cadherin expressions are differentially involved in ovarian carcinogenesis and may have diagnostic and prognostic values.
Daraï
E
E
Service de Gynécologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude-Bernard, Paris, France.
Scoazec
J Y
JY
Walker-Combrouze
F
F
Mlika-Cabanne
N
N
Feldmann
G
G
Madelenat
P
P
Potet
F
F
D000328:Adult; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D015820:Cadherins