Suppression of E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenin mRNA expression in the metastatic lesions of gynecological cancers.
To know the biological role of adherens junction, mainly consisting of E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenins, associated with invasion and metastasis of ovarian, uterine endometrial and cervical cancers, we studied the expression of E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenin mRNAs in the metastatic lesions in comparison with those in the primary tumors. The integral expression of E-cadherin and alpha- and beta-catenin mRNAs in the metastatic lesions in comparison with that of the primary tumors was suppressed in 4 of 5 cases of ovarian cancers, all cases of uterine endometrial cancers, and 4 of 5 cases of uterine cervical cancers. Therefore, the suppressed expression of the main adhesion molecules in the adherence junction might contribute to the cell-to-cell junctional dysfunction, which might lead to the acquisition of invasiveness and metastatic potential of gynecological cancers as one of the rate-limiting steps.
Fujimoto
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu City, Japan.
Ichigo
S
S
Hirose
R
R
Sakaguchi
H
H
Tamaya
T
T
D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin