Expression patterns of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin in pancreatic cancer: correlation with E-cadherin expression, pathological features and prognosis.
BACKGROUND
The E-cadherin-catenin cell adhesion complex has been implicated in tumour invasion and metastasis. In this study, we evaluated the clinical significance of E-cadherin and catenin expression in pancreatic cancer.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical expression and cellular co-localization of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin were investigated in 43 paraffin-embedded specimens of pancreatic cancer. The relationship between their expression and E-cadherin expression, clinicopathological features and prognosis was evaluated.


RESULTS
Abnormal alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin expression was found in 37%, 44% and 40% of cases, respectively. Both alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin expression correlated with disease stage and with lymph node and distant metastases, whereas aberrant beta-catenin expression only correlated with the presence of lymph node metastases. There was a significant and progressive concordance between E-cadherin and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin expression patterns, respectively. The expressions of alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin also significantly correlated with one another. All three catenins, like E-cadherin, were associated with a poor prognosis, but only E-cadherin and alpha-catenin were independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in catenin expression and pancreatic cancer progression are possibly related events. The expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin may add useful new prognostic information.
Karayiannakis
A J
AJ
Second Department of Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece. akarayan@usa.net
Syrigos
K N
KN
Polychronidis
A
A
Simopoulos
C
C
D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; C495292:JUP protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin