Membrane loss and aberrant nuclear localization of E-cadherin are consistent features of solid pseudopapillary tumour of the pancreas. An immunohistochemical study using two antibodies recognizing different domains of the E-cadherin molecule.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the expression of E-cadherin in solid pseudopapillary tumours (SPT) of the pancreas using two monoclonal antibodies recognizing two different domains of the E-cadherin molecule.


RESULTS
Twenty cases of SPT were collected and a tissue microarray (TMA) constructed. The TMA was stained with commercially available antibodies to E-cadherin and beta-catenin. All 20 cases displayed nuclear beta-catenin as well as aberrant E-cadherin expression. With the antibody that stains the cytoplasmic domain of E-cadherin (clone 36, BD Transduction Laboratories), all 20 cases demonstrated nuclear E-cadherin reactivity, whereas with use of the antibody that recognizes the extracellular domain (clone 36B5, Vector Laboratories), no reactivity was observed in any of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that aberrant beta-catenin and E-cadherin protein expression occurs in 100% of SPT, is probably linked mechanistically to beta-catenin nuclear localization, and two distinct patterns of E-cadherin immunoreactivity are seen in SPT: nuclear (with the antibody against the cytoplasmic domain), or immunonegativity (complete loss) when stained with the antibody for the E-cadherin extracellular fragment.
Chetty
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R
Department of Pathology, University Health Network/Toronto Medical Laboratories, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. runjan.chetty@uhn.on.ca
Serra
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S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins