E-cadherin expression in oesophageal carcinoma treated with high-dose radiotherapy; correlation with pretreatment parameters and treatment outcome.
OBJECTIVE
E-cadherin plays an important role in the cell-cell contact of normal epithelium. Loss of E-cadherin expression may be related to tumour invasiveness and metastatic potential. In a group of patients treated for oesophageal carcinoma by radiotherapy only, we found that immunohistochemically detected p53 expression correlated with reduced survival, mainly because of the occurrence of distant metastases. We questioned whether, in this group of patients, E-cadherin expression was concomitantly altered and served as a predictive factor for the development of distant metastases.


METHODS
Immunostaining for E-cadherin was performed on paraffin- embedded biopsy specimens from patients with adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. E-cadherin status and its correlation with regard to pretreatment parameters and treatment outcome were determined.


RESULTS
An aberrant staining pattern of E-cadherin did not correlate with any of the pretreatment parameters. In a univariate analysis, a significantly reduced metastatic potential was found for tumours that had an aberrant cellular staining pattern for E-cadherin, which was strongest for squamous cell carcinomas. However, in a multivariate analysis only p53 status correlated significantly with the occurrence of distant metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Although, in univariate analysis, aberrant E-cadherin expression served as a better, rather than a worse prognostic factor, p53 status remained the only significant parameter in multivariate analysis, in this group of patients with oesophageal carcinoma. No relationship between p53 status and E-cadherin expression was found.
Pomp
J
J
Department of Radiation Oncology, Reinier de Graaf Group, P.O. Box 5011, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands. POMP@RdGG.nl
Blom
J
J
van Krimpen
C
C
Zwinderman
A H
AH
Immerzeel
J J
JJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D015820:Cadherins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53