E-cadherin and beta-catenin are down-regulated in prostatic bone metastases.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression phenotype in untreated primary prostate cancer and corresponding bone metastases.


METHODS
Paired bone metastasis and primary prostate specimens were obtained from 14 men with untreated metastatic prostate carcinoma. The tumours were histologically graded by an independent pathologist. Expression of mRNA for E-cadherin and beta-catenin was detected within the tumour cells using in-situ hybridization with a 35S-labelled cDNA probe. The expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin were graded as uniform, heterogeneous or negative.


RESULTS
The mRNA for E-cadherin was expressed in 13 of 14 primary carcinomas and 11 bone metastases; beta-catenin was expressed by 13 and nine, respectively. Of the primary tumours, nine expressed E-cadherin and beta-catenin uniformly; in contrast, all metastases had down-regulated E-cadherin and/or beta-catenin.


CONCLUSIONS
The down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin are a feature of the metastatic phenotype, which may be a significant factor in the genesis of bone metastases. However, this does not appear to be reflected in the expression of these molecules in the primary tumours.
Bryden
A A G
AA
Christie and Hope Hospital, University of Manchester, UK.
Hoyland
J A
JA
Freemont
A J
AJ
Clarke
N W
NW
Schembri Wismayer
D
D
George
N J R
NJ
D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin