Aberrant E-cadherin expression associated with loss of differentiation and advanced stage in human pancreatic cancer.
E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule involved in tumour invasion and metastasis. We evaluated E-cadherin expression immunohistochemically in 43 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of pancreatic cancer and investigated its relationship to histopathological features. In non-cancerous pancreatic cells E-cadherin immunoreactivity was localized at the cell membrane, particularly at the intercellular junctions. Abnormal E-cadherin expression was found in 18 (42%) cases. A significantly higher proportion of poorly-differentiated tumours (71%) showed abnormal E-cadherin expression compared with moderately (50%) and well (19%) differentiated tumours (P = 0.037). There was a significant correlation between abnormal E-cadherin expression and lymph node involvement (P = 0.013), the presence of distant metastases (P = 0.034) and advanced tumour stage (P = 0.025). These findings suggest that loss of normal E-cadherin expression is involved in the progression of pancreatic cancer.
Karayiannakis
A J
AJ
First Department of Surgery, First IKA Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Syrigos
K N
KN
Chatzigianni
E
E
Papanikolaou
S
S
Alexiou
D
D
Kalahanis
N
N
Rosenberg
T
T
Bastounis
E
E
D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015820:Cadherins