title: E-cadherin, beta-catenin, invasion and lymph node metastases in canine malignant mammary tumours.
abstract: Recent studies of canine malignant mammary tumours suggest that reduction of E-cadherin and/or beta-catenin correlates with invasive behaviour and lymph node metastasis. The aims of this study were to examine the interrelationships between the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin, and the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin and/or beta-catenin and the mode of growth and metastatic capacity of canine malignant mammary tumours. 90 spontaneous malignant tumours and local and regional lymph nodes were studied. A significant relationship was evidenced between membranous expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin (p=0.0027), but not between E-cadherin and cytoplasmic beta-catenin. Only E-cadherin as a separate factor was significantly related to tumour invasion (p=0.0072) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.0001). Neither membranous nor cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression was significantly related to either of these phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Augusto José Ferreira
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: De Matos
authors.forename: Célia Cristina Carreiras
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Augusto Manuel Rodrigues
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Faustino
authors.forename: Júlio Gil Vale
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Carvalheira
authors.forename: Gerard Roel
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Rutteman
authors.forename: Maria De Fátima Rodrigues Moutinho
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Gärtner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin