Loss of expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin is associated with progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
The aim of the present study was to determine the association of loss of membranous expression of epithelial (E)-cadherin and beta-catenin with the progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. The expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was examined in 154 cases of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, including 49 cases of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 40 cases of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC), 42 cases of BAC-dominant type of adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes (early MX) and 23 cases of BAC-recessive type of adenocarcinoma with mixed subtypes (overt MX), by immunohistochemistry. E-cadherin expression was positive in all cases of AAH, in 37 cases (92.5%) of BAC and in 34 cases (81.0%) of early MX, while it was positive in three cases (13.0%) of overt MX. beta-Catenin expression was positive in 47 cases (95.9%) of AAH, in 28 cases (70%) of BAC, in 32 cases (76.2%) of early MX and in 11 cases (47.8%) of overt MX. The rates of expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin among cases of AAH, BAC, early MX and overt MX were significantly reduced. Loss of expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin may play an important role in the progression of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and these events occur before structural destruction of the alveolar wall by invasion of carcinoma cell.
Awaya
Hirokazu
H
Department of Pathology, Postgraduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minamiku, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan.
Takeshima
Yukio
Y
Amatya
Vishwa Jeet
VJ
Ishida
Hajime
H
Yamasaki
Masahiro
M
Kohno
Nobuoki
N
Inai
Kouki
K
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051176:beta Catenin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin