E-cadherin expression correlates with tumor differentiation in colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) is the main cell-cell adhesion molecule in all epithelia. Aberrant expression of this molecule has been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis. We evaluated E-cadherin expression and cellular localization in colorectal cancer and investigated its relationship to histopathological features.


METHODS
The expression of E-cadherin was evaluated in 57 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of colorectal cancer by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In normal colonic mucosa, E-cadherin was expressed uniformly at the cell membrane. Abnormal E-cadherin expression and/or cellular distribution was found in 46% of tumors. There was a significant correlation between E-cadherin expression and tumor grade with a trend towards reduced E-cadherin expression as the tumor grade increased. The association between E-cadherin expression and tumor stage was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal E-cadherin expression in colorectal cancer correlates with loss of differentiation.
Karatzas
G
G
Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece.
Karayiannakis
A J
AJ
Syrigos
K N
KN
Chatzigianni
E
E
Papanikolaou
S
S
Riza
F
F
Papanikolaou
D
D
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D015820:Cadherins