title: Prognostic value of the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in bladder cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic effect of the expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and CD44 adhesion molecules in bladder carcinoma. 22 superficial and 18 invasive bladder tumour samples were studied by immunohistochemistry. The median follow-up was 24 months (range: 1-50 months). Loss of E-cadherin and beta-catenin immunoreactivity was found in 14 (35%) and 17 (43%) tumours, respectively, and was significantly associated with invasiveness, high grade and p53 overexpression. There was no correlation between CD44 variant expression and clinicopathological findings. Loss of E-cadherin expression was an independent predictor of poor survival in a multivariate analysis, when assessed with age, grade, stage and p53 status (hazards ratio adjusted (HRa)=4.45 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-18.63]). This effect was particularly augmented in patients with invasive bladder cancer. When expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were evaluated simultaneously, loss of immunoreactivity of both proteins was a strong predictor of poor survival (HRa=13.06 [95% CI, 0.95-178.55]). The same pattern was found when progression-free survival in relation to these variables was assessed. In conclusion, assessment of E-cadherin and beta-catenin immunoreactivity may be a useful prognostic marker in bladder cancer complementary to established prognostic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Avda Gran Via Km 2.7, E-08907 L'Hosp. de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. garciadelmuro@csub.scs.es
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Garcia del Muro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torregrosa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Castellsagué
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Condom
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vigués
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arance
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabra
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Germà
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000032:analysis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051176:beta Catenin