Cell discohesion and multifocality of carcinoma in situ of the bladder: new insight from the adhesion molecule profile (e-cadherin, Ep-CAM, and MUC1).
Urothelial cell carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the bladder is a superficially diffusive and highly discohesive disease. The authors analyzed the expression of some adhesion molecules (e-cadherin and Ep-CAM) and MUC1 in 32 unifocal and multifocal bladder urothelial cell CIS in an attempt to clarify this discohesion. E-cadherin was strongly expressed, in more than 75% of the cases. The presence of methylation of the CDH1 e-cadherin promoter gene was also investigated, but methylation was found in only one case. Ep-CAM was present in all the cases with a heterogeneous staining pattern. Similarly, MUC1/episialin was variously present in 94% of the cases without a polarized staining pattern and was expressed more strongly in cases with multifocal disease. Because loss of MUC1 polarization leads to interference with cell-cell adhesion mechanisms mediated by cadherins, these findings help explain why bladder urothelial cell CIS often shows a discohesive morphology and multifocality despite a strongly expressed adhesion molecule profile. Finally, Ep-CAM expression might provide some support for future target therapy trials.
Patriarca
Carlo
C
Department of Pathology, Azienda Ospedaliera di Melegnano, and University of Milan Medical School, ICH Humanitas Rozzano, Milan, Italy. carlo.patriarca@unimi.it
Colombo
Piergiuseppe
P
Pio Taronna
Angelo
A
Wesseling
Jelle
J
Franchi
Giada
G
Guddo
Francesca
F
Naspro
Richard
R
Macchi
Roberto Maria
RM
Giunta
Paolo
P
Di Pasquale
Marcello
M
Parente
Michele
M
Arizzi
Carmelo
C
Roncalli
Massimo
M
Campo
Biagio
B
D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C499379:EPCAM protein, human; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D018396:Mucin-1