Expression of E-cadherin, cadherin-11, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins in nephroblastomas: relationship with clinicopathological parameters, prognostic factors and outcome.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to determine the expression of cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin, cadherin-11, and alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins in nephroblastomas and to correlate this expression with pathological features and known prognostic factors.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was performed on 140 cases of nephroblastoma following heat-induced epitope retrieval and using the streptavidin-biotin technique.


RESULTS
E-cadherin was expressed in 75 cases (54%), cadherin-11 in 128 cases (91%), alpha-catenin in 93 cases (66%), beta-catenin in 133 cases (95%) and gamma-catenin in 22 cases (16%). Nuclear localisation of beta-catenin was not demonstrated. There was a statistically significant relationship between the administration of preoperative chemotherapy and the expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and gamma-catenin, respectively. These proteins were more frequently expressed in tumours treated with preoperative chemotherapy. Those tumours that expressed all four proteins (E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin) showed a statistically significant association with the administration of preoperative chemotherapy, in contrast to tumours that did not express all four proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
Nephroblastomas show a heterogeneous distribution of staining for E-cadherin, cadherin-11, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenins. Tumours treated with preoperative chemotherapy are more likely to express these molecules. The expression status of E-cadherin, cadherin-11 and the catenins in this cohort does not appear to be of prognostic value.
Department of Paediatric Surgery, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Amsha
A
Ramburan
G P
GP
Hadley
Dhirendra
D
Govender
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D051177:Catenins / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000032:analysis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis; D051185:gamma Catenin / Q000032:analysis
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051177:Catenins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin; C086960:osteoblast cadherin