title: Expression and localization of e-cadherin in epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Findings for the role of E-cadherin in ovarian cancer (OC) are controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression and prognostic role of E-cadherin in OC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression analysis of E-cadherin was performed by immunohistochemistry in 36 patients (12 primary OC, 15 recurrent OC, 9 benign ovarian lesions). Tumor specimens were collected within OC. Correlation analysis with clinicopathological factors and survival was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E-Cadherin was significantly reduced in OC compared to benign ovarian lesions (p=0.024). In primary OC, E-cadherin was comparable in ovarian tumor and corresponding metastatic tumor tissue. E-Cadherin showed no association with clinicopathological factors. A significant correlation between increased volume of ascites and higher E-cadherin immunoexpression was found in primary OC (p=0.029). E-Cadherin expression showed no statistically prognostic significance for survival (p=0.856).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The function of E-cadherin in OC remains controversial and needs to be elucidated further in larger studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ernst Moritz Arndt University Hospital Greifswald, 17475 Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koensgen
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Freitag
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klaman
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mustea
authors.forename: Radoslav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chekerov
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Braicu
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lichtenegger
authors.forename: Jalid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sehouli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins