title: Distinct expression patterns of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in signet ring cell carcinoma components of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Soo Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hye Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoon Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jin-Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kyeong Cheon
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Doo Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin