title: E-cadherin expression correlates with tumor differentiation in colorectal cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Athens, Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karatzas
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Karayiannakis
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Syrigos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chatzigianni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riza
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins