P-cadherin expression in glandular lesions of the uterine cervix detected by liquid-based cytology.
OBJECTIVE
To study P-cadherin aberrant expression as a possible marker for cervical adenocarcinomas in cytological samples.


METHODS
We studied P-cadherin immunoexpression in liquid-based cervical cytology samples of biopsy-proven cervical lesions.


RESULTS
We found a statistically significant correlation between P-cadherin expression and a cytological diagnosis of malignancy, either glandular or squamous (P < 0.0001). Twenty-two of 33 malignant cases showed P-cadherin membrane staining. None of the 30 benign cases tested showed membrane staining, but three of them displayed an aberrant nuclear P-cadherin expression.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that P-cadherin can be used to discriminate between malignant and benign cervical cytological specimens, but not to discriminate glandular from squamous lesions.
Longatto Filho
A
A
Pathology Division of Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Albergaria
A
A
Paredes
J
J
Moreira
M A R
MA
Milanezi
F
F
Schmitt
F C
FC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins