title: The cadherin switch assessment in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of urothelial bladder carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process is a complex molecular mechanism that is involved in the acquisition of an aggressive, invasive and metastatic phenotype by carcinomas. The cadherin switch consists in the alteration of E-cadherin and N-cadherin expression and is specific for the EMT process.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 35 cases of primitive urothelial carcinomas investigated in relation with clinicopathological prognostic parameters and expression of E- and N-cadherins in the advancing edge and intratumoral compartments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both compartments, the immunoexpression of E-cadherin decreased, while that of N-cadherin increased in high grade, deeply invasive, or those cases with lymph node metastases and advanced stages carcinomas, with a negative linear correlation observed between their expression percentage values. In this study, it was observed the presence of cadherin switch in urothelial carcinomas, the variation of the two proteins' immunostaining patterns being higher at the advancing edge. The presence of N-cadherin in intratumoral compartment designated it as actively involved in EMT process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of cadherins switch can be used to identify superficial urothelial carcinoma with invasion and metastasis potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania; astepan76@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Andrei Ioan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Drocaş
authors.forename: Paul Ioan
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Tomescu
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitroi
authors.forename: Petru Octavian
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Drăgoescu
authors.forename: Claudiu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mărgăritescu
authors.forename: Alex Emilian
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Stepan
authors.forename: Valeriu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Şurlin
authors.forename: Ştefania
authors.initials: Ş
authors.lastname: CrăiŢoiu
authors.forename: Ileana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drocaş
authors.forename: Anca Marilena
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ungureanu
authors.forename: Alice Elena
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Găman
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turculeanu
authors.forename: Cristiana Eugenia
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Simionescu
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins