title: Paradoxical expression of E-cadherin in prostatic bone metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is expressed in metastatic deposits of prostate cancer in bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten bone biopsies containing metastatic deposits of untreated prostatic cancer were obtained and immunohistochemically stained for E-cadherin with the monoclonal antibody HECD-1, using the streptavidin-biotin complex technique. Benign prostatic tissue was used as the control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 10 specimens, nine showed positive expression of E-cadherin, graded as strong in four. E-cadherin expression was strongest in well-differentiated metastases and decreased with increasing tumour grade. In some specimens there were mixed patterns of expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-cadherin is strongly expressed in prostatic bone metastases and the degree of expression appears to reflect local tumour grade. This suggests that loss of E-cadherin expression may not be critically linked to metastatic potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of South Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bryden
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Freemont
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins