N-cadherin is differentially expressed in histological subtypes of papillary renal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) represents a rare tumor, which is divided, based on histological criteria, into two subtypes. In contrast to type I papillary RCC type II papillary RCC shows a worse prognosis. So far, reliable immunohistochemical markers for the distinction of these subtypes are not available.


METHODS
In the present study the expression of N(neural)-, E(epithelial)-, P(placental)-, and KSP(kidney specific)-cadherin was examined in 22 papillary RCC of histological type I and 18 papillary RCC of histological type II (n = 40).


RESULTS
All papillary RCC type II displayed a membranous expression for N-cadherin, whereas type I did not show any membranous positivity for N-cadherin. E-cadherin exhibited a stronger, but not significant, membranous as well as cytoplasmic expression in type II than in type I papillary RCC. A diagnostic relevant expression of P- and KSP-cadherin could not be demonstrated in both tumor entities.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus N-cadherin represents the first immunhistochemical marker for a clear cut differentiation between papillary RCC type I and type II and could be a target for therapy and diagnostic in the future.
The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2011556982761733.
Department of Pathology, University of Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str 40, 37083 Göttingen, Germany. clbehnes@med.uni-goettingen.de
Carl Ludwig
CL
Behnes
Bernhard
B
Hemmerlein
Arne
A
Strauss
Heinz-Joachim
HJ
Radzun
Felix
F
Bremmer
D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis
D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; C050361:CDH2 protein, human; C512197:CDH3 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C087310:K cadherin