Distinct expression patterns of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in signet ring cell carcinoma components of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
E-Cadherin and beta-catenin complexes have been suggested to have critical roles in cancer development and progression. Primary signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the lung is a rare variant of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and E-cadherin and beta-catenin expressions of this tumor have not been documented, to our knowledge.


OBJECTIVE
To characterize the E-cadherin and beta-catenin expressions in SRCC of the lung.


METHODS
An immunohistochemical evaluation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin expressions in 10 cases of SRCC of the lung, 10 cases of conventional pulmonary adenocarcinoma, 10 cases of gastric SRCC, and 10 cases of colorectal SRCC was performed.


RESULTS
Membranous E-cadherin and beta-catenin expressions were frequently reduced or absent in all types of tumors tested. Aberrant E-cadherin localization and nuclear beta-catenin accumulation were frequently found in gastric (6/10 and 5/10, respectively) and colorectal (7/10 and 9/ 10, respectively) SRCCs, whereas SRCC of the lung rarely showed aberrant E-cadherin localization (1/10) or nuclear beta-catenin accumulation (0/10).


CONCLUSIONS
Signet ring cell carcinoma of the lung rarely showed aberrant E-cadherin localization or beta-catenin nuclear accumulation, which are frequent events in gastric and colorectal SRCCs. These results suggest that the biologic roles of E-cadherin and beta-catenin complexes in SRCC of the lung differ from their roles in gastric or colorectal SRCCs.
Moon
Kyung Chul
KC
Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Cho
Soo Youn
SY
Lee
Hye Seung
HS
Jeon
Yoon Kyung
YK
Chung
Jin-Haeng
JH
Jung
Kyeong Cheon
KC
Chung
Doo Hyun
DH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin