E-cadherin expression in primary and metastatic gastric cancer: down-regulation correlates with cellular dedifferentiation and glandular disintegration

Item Type:	Article
Title:	E-cadherin expression in primary and metastatic gastric cancer: down-regulation correlates with cellular dedifferentiation and glandular disintegration
Creators Name:	Mayer, B. and Johnson, J.P. and Leitl, F. and Jauch, K.W. and Heiss, M.M. and Schildberg, F.W. and Birchmeier, W. and Funke, I.
Abstract:	Expression of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in primary and metastatic gastric carcinoma was examined using immunohistochemical analyses. Compared to normal mucosa, 92% of the primary tumors (n = 60) showed reduced E-cadherin expression, suggesting that down-regulation of this cell adhesion molecule is a common early event in gastric tumorigenesis. No significant correlation was found between E-cadherin expression and tumor diameter, lymphatic vessel invasion, Borrmann classification, lymph node status, or manifest metastases. Although advanced tumors (tumor stage 3/4) showed a loss of E-cadherin-positive cells (< or = 50% cells/lesion, P = 0.0168), the most significant correlation was observed between low E-cadherin expression and cellular dedifferentiation (grading 3/4, P = 0.0001) and disintegration of tissue architecture (Lauren and WHO classifications, P = 0.0001). Low E-cadherin expression (< or = 50% cells/lesion) was associated with tumor recurrence (P = 0.0013) and mortality (P = 0.0246). E-cadherin expression in metastatic lesions (n = 58) also correlated with the degree of glandular differentiation (P = 0.0001). Significant correlation (rs = 0.686) was observed between E-cadherin expression in primary and metastatic lesions from individual patients (n = 39). However, while metastases derived from E-cadherin-negative tumors remained negative, those originating from E-cadherin-positive tumors frequently demonstrated increased levels of expression. Evaluation of multiple metastases in 11 patients revealed uniformly strong E-cadherin expression in liver metastases, suggesting a possible regulatory role of the microenvironment.
Keywords:	Cadherins, Cell Differentiation, Down-Regulation, Gastric Mucosa, Liver Neoplasms, Stomach Neoplasms
Source:	Cancer Research
ISSN:	0008-5472
Publisher:	American Association for Cancer Research
Volume:	53
Number:	7
Page Range:	1690-1695
Date:	1 April 1993
Official Publication:	http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/53/7/1690.abstract
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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