title: β-Catenin and E-cadherin expression in stage I adult-type granulosa cell tumour of the ovary: correlation with tumour morphology and clinical outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study E-cadherin and β-catenin expression in stage I adult-type granulosa cell tumours (AGCTs) and correlate the findings with tumour morphology and clinical outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study group comprised 62 FIGO stage I AGCTs, including 48 stage IA and 14 stage IC cases. Fifty patients (80.6%) had negative clinical follow-up over periods from 3.0 to 19.2 years (median 6.4 years), and 12 patients (19.4%) developed metastases at intervals of 3.6-16.2 years (median 8.6 years). β-Catenin and E-cadherin were expressed in 62 (100%) and 53 (85%) primary tumours, respectively, and staining was more consistent and intense in areas showing sex cord-like morphology. In contrast, diffuse tumour areas often showed weak or moderate staining (β-catenin) or were negative (E-cadherin), and there was reduced expression of both proteins in luteinized cells. Reduced β-catenin expression in primary tumours correlated with increased risk of recurrence (P = 0.002) and a shorter time interval to recurrence, whereas there was no correlation between E-cadherin staining and the risk of metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Localized variations in adhesion protein expression may partly explain the diverse morphological patterns exhibited by AGCT, and reduced β-catenin staining in primary tumours may have value as an adverse prognostic factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Bagot Rd., Subiaco, Perth, WA 6008, Australia. colin.stewart@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Colin J R
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Doherty
authors.forename: Rowan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guppy
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Louwen
authors.forename: Yee C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006106:Granulosa Cell Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin