title: The diagnostic value of beta-catenin immunohistochemistry.
abstract: beta-catenin is a 92-kDa protein that binds to the cytoplasmic tail of E-cadherin. It acts in the nucleus to stimulate cell proliferation and is degraded by complexing with the adenomatous polyposis coli gene. When it is mutated, it is ineffectively degraded and results in unchecked proliferative activity that plays a role in a subset of neoplasms. When there are alterations in beta-catenin degradation, it accumulates to a sufficient extent to be detected in the nuclei of tumor cells immunohistochemically, a feature that can be exploited in the differential diagnosis of selected neoplasms. Immunohistochemistry for beta-catenin may be useful in the differential diagnosis of selected tumors of soft tissue, the gastrointestinal tract, including the pancreas, lung, and female genital tract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA. emontgom@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Folpe
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051176:beta Catenin