E-cadherin is a specific marker for erythroid differentiation and has utility, in combination with CD117 and CD34, for enumerating myeloblasts in hematopoietic neoplasms.
OBJECTIVE
E-cadherin, epithelial calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein, has been identified as a marker of immature erythroid precursors in recent years. However, the specificity of E-cadherin in bone marrow specimens for erythroblasts vs myeloblasts or other early hematopoietic precursors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has not been fully elucidated.


METHODS
We analyzed 105 cases of AML and MDS to evaluate the specificity of E-cadherin.


RESULTS
Of 84 cases of AML, including cases with megakaryocytic, erythroid, monocytic, and granulocytic differentiation, all five acute erythroleukemia cases were positive, as well as one case of megakaryoblastic leukemia that showed coexpression of glycophorin A. In addition, we demonstrate that a panel of three markers, E-cadherin, CD117, and CD34, is effective in identifying lineage-specific myeloblasts in cases of MDS where left-shifted erythroid hyperplasia may complicate morphologic assessment of myeloblasts.


CONCLUSIONS
In marrow specimens, E-cadherin is a useful marker for erythroid differentation.
Dept of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Dr, Rm L235, Stanford, CA 94305; rohgami@stanford.edu.
Robert S
RS
Ohgami
Karen M
KM
Chisholm
Lisa
L
Ma
Daniel A
DA
Arber
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D042381:Granulocyte Precursor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D015820:Cadherins; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
Acute myeloid leukemia; E-cadherin; Erythroid; Erythroleukemia; Myelodysplastic syndrome