Cadherin expression in ovarian carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma cell effusions.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze potential differences in cadherin expression between ovarian carcinoma/primary peritoneal carcinoma (OC/PPC) and malignant mesothelioma (MM) at this anatomic site.


METHODS
MM (N=24) and OC/PPC (N= 53) effusions were analyzed for E-cadherin, N-cadherin and P-cadherin protein expression using immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
Both MM and OC/PPC cells showed frequent expression of all 3 cadherins. OC/PPC specimens expressed E-cadherin and N-cadherin in 52 of 53 cases and P-cadherin in 51 of 53 cases. MM effusions expressed E-cadherin, N-cadherin and P-cadherin in 22 of 24, 21 of24 and 23 of24 cases, respectively. The differences in the percentage of cadherin-positive cells was weakly significant for P-cadherin (higher expression in MM, p = 0.04), but E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression was comparable (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MM and OC/PPC coexpress different cadherin family members. P-cadherin, E-cadherin and N-cadherin are not useful for differentiation between OC/PPC and MM in effusions.
Sivertsen
Stine
S
Department of Pathology, National Hospital-Norwegian Radium Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Berner
Aasmund
A
Michael
Claire W
CW
Bedrossian
Carlos
C
Davidson
Ben
B
D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins