The prognostic value of E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin in urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the value of loss of the expression of E-cadherin and cadherin-associated molecules as useful markers for both prognosis and bladder recurrence in patients with upper urinary tract cancer.


METHODS
In 61 paraffin-embedded nephroureterectomy specimens, the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin was examined by immunohistochemical staining. To evaluate the prognostic significance, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were calculated and compared by the log-rank test. A multivariate test was performed to detect prognostic markers.


RESULTS
Normal expression was found in 32 cases (52.5%) for E-cadherin, 41 cases (67.2%) for alpha-catenin, 42 cases (68.9%) for beta-catenin, and 31 cases (50.8%) for gamma-catenin. The expression patterns of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin were significantly correlated with each other. Survival analysis showed a significant difference between normal and aberrant expression in each staining. Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor stage and the expression of E-cadherin were independent prognostic factors for cause-specific survival. In contrast, there was no significant correlation between the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin and bladder recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest E-cadherin may be a good prognostic marker for patients with upper urinary tract cancer.
Kashibuchi
Keishi
K
Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Tomita
Kyoichi
K
Schalken
Jack A
JA
Kume
Haruki
H
Yamaguchi
Takuhiro
T
Muto
Satoru
S
Horie
Sigeo
S
Kitamura
Tadaichi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*; D051185:gamma Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin