title: Differential immunohistochemical expression of CD44s, E-cadherin and β-catenin among hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions of the prostate gland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  CD44s, E-cadherin and β-catenin are cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and appear to influence organ development, inflammation, cancer invasion and metastasis. We studied the expression of these CAMs in prostate cancer (PCa), high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and nodular adenomatous hyperplasia (NH).
  
  
  METHODS
  135 paraffin blocks of radical prostatectomy specimens were assessed. CAMs were determined by immunohistochemistry. All sections included PCa, HGPIN and NH. The expression was semiquantitatively evaluated in three scores (1+, 2+, 3+). The markers' immunopositivity was statistically investigated with Gleason score and TNM stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD44s had score 3+ in 41.5, 46.7 and 37.8% of areas with NH, HGPIN and PCa, respectively. E-cadherin immunostaining was highly detected in 71.1, 78.5 and 63.0% of NH, HGPIN and PCa areas while β-catenin score 3+ was exclusively membranous in 80.7% of NH and nuclear/cytoplasmic in 70.4 and 48.9% of HGPIN and PCa areas. No marker related to the Gleason score (p = 0.352). CD44s and E-cadherin expression was inversely associated with TNM stage (p = 0.021 and p = 0.042, respectively); no such association was observed for β-catenin (p = 0.556). The decreased expression of CD44s and E-cadherin is probably associated with the invasive potential of PCa. The β-catenin staining pattern in neoplastic lesions, either preinvasive or invasive, differs from that in non-neoplastic prostate lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hellenic Red Cross Hospital, Athens, Greece. paraslazari @ yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lazari
authors.forename: Hercules
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poulias
authors.forename: Hariklia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gakiopoulou
authors.forename: Geogia-Heleni
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Thomopoulou
authors.forename: Calypso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbatis
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lazaris
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011467:Prostate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019048:Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C497483:CD44 protein, human; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D051176:beta Catenin