Co-expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin molecules in colorectal cancer

E-cadherin Expression in Canine Gastric Carcinomas: Association with Clinicopathological Parameters

E-cadherin (E-cad) is a cell-adhesion molecule known for its tumor-invasion suppressor function. E-cad expression was examined immunohistochemically in a series of canine tissue samples, including normal gastric mucosa (NGM; n = 3), gastric carcinomas (GC; n = 33), adjacent non-neoplastic mucosa (NNM; n = 32), neoplastic emboli (n = 16) and metastatic lesions (n = 9). The relationship between E-cad expression and clinicopathological features were investigated. In NGM, epithelial cells showed strong latero-lateral membranous expression of E-cad, and this pattern was considered normal. The membranous staining was preserved in all specimens of NNM (100%), whereas abnormal E-cad expression was found in 87.9% of the GCs. A marked difference in E-cad expression was observed between normal and malignant tissues (p < 0.0002). Abnormal E-cad expression was significantly more frequent in poorly/undifferentiated carcinomas (96%) and diffuse (95%) and indeterminate carcinomas (100%) than in well-differentiated/intestinal ones (62.5%; p = 0.0115 and p = 0.0392, respectively). There was significant association between abnormal E-cad expression and the depth of invasion (p = 0.0117), and the presence neoplastic emboli (p = 0.0194). No statistically significant differences in E-cad expression were observed concerning tumor location, histological type according to WHO classification, and presence of metastatic lesions. Therefore, deregulation of E-cad expression may play a role in canine gastric carcinogenesis and in tumor progression; moreover, it might be a prognostic tool for canine gastric cancer.

MicroRNA-9 up-regulation is involved in colorectal cancer metastasis via promoting cell motility

Human microRNA-9 (miR-9) has been reported to be involved in the metastasis of several malignancies including brain breast cancer. However, its role in the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains to be revealed. Here, we evaluated miR-9 expression in metastatic CRC and investigated its effects on the motility and proliferation of RKO cells. The expressions of miR-9 in 15 primary CRC specimens without distant metastasis (NM group) and 10 primary CRC specimens (M group) with distant metastasis (M group) were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. The alternations in the motility and morphology of RKO cells before and after miR-9 transfection were analyzed by migration assay and F-actin staining. The relationship between miR-9 and α-catenin was identified by Western blotting. Cell growth was examined by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide) assay. Significant difference of miR-9 expression was observed in M group compared to the NM group (P < 0.001). Ectopic expression of miR-9 enhanced the motility of RKO cells as well as changed their morphological appearance, while cell growth remained unchanged. The overexpression of miR-9 could also down-regulate α-catenin expression. These data suggest that miR-9 may potentially participate in the metastatic process of CRC though facilitating cell motility.

E-cadherin and β-catenin expression in canine colorectal adenocarcinoma

E-cadherin and its associated cytoplasmic proteins, including β-catenin, have been examined as potential oncogenic markers due to the significant correlation between tumour dedifferentiation and the invasive capacity of epithelial tumours. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in canine colorectal cancer using immunohistochemistry and to examine the relationship between this expression and various clinicopathological variables. The expression pattern of E-cadherin and β-catenin was investigated in 44 colorectal canine carcinomas. In the intestinal mucosa of noncancerous areas, epithelial cells demonstrated equally strong membranous expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin localised to the cell-cell junctions. Reduced expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin was demonstrated in 75% and 81.8% of the colorectal carcinoma cases, respectively. The down-regulation of both E-cadherin and β-catenin was correlated with decreased differentiation and increased tumour grade. In addition, the expression of β-catenin was correlated with tumour size. These results suggest that dysfunction of the E-cadherin-catenin complex starts in the early stages of carcinogenesis and that the disruption of the tissue architecture is progressively associated with the invasion of the tumour.

Dog as model for down-expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in tubular epithelial cells in renal fibrosis

Mechanism of renal fibrosis leading to end stage kidney remains still a challenge of interest in humans. The pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease is characterized by progressive loss of kidney function and fibrosis. The mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been predominantly studied in in vitro studies, and we previously demonstrated the EMT of tubular epithelial cells in dogs. In this study, we examined and quantified the modifications of cadherin-catenin complex by immunohistochemistry of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and the mesenchymal marker vimentin in 25 dogs with three different spontaneous inflammatory renal diseases. Results showed a significant down-expression of levels of E-cadherin and beta-catenin directly correlated with the tubular-interstitial damage (TID). In TID grades 2 and 3, E-cadherin expression was significantly reduced (p < 0.001). beta-catenin expression was overall similar to E-cadherin. The mesenchymal-associated protein, vimentin, was de novo identified in tubules within areas of inflammation. In this work, we identified the loss of cadherin or catenin expression as a progressive mechanism in tubulo-interstitial fibrosis, which allows dissociation of structural integrity of renal epithelia and loss of epithelial polarity. The dog might result more significant as model for new therapies.

The prognostic significance of E-cadherin and liver intestine-cadherin expression in colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

The significance of liver intestine-cadherin as a potential marker has been growing in the field of oncology, because of its unique features compared with classic cadherins. We investigated the coexpression patterns of E-cadherin and liver intestine-cadherin in colorectal cancer, and determined whether differences in expression patterns were associated with clinicopathologic parameters and also which relationship between these two adhesion molecules existed in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Expression pattern of E-cadherin and liver intestine-cadherin was investigated immunohistochemically in 207 colorectal cancers along with clinicopathologic parameters.

RESULTS

Reduced expression of liver intestine-cadherin was detected in 51 percent (n = 105) of tumors. Such expression was found to be associated with tumoral dedifferentiation (P = 0.015) and in a multivariate analysis was associated with a significant worse overall survival after adjustment for tumor stage, differentiation, and E-cadherin status (hazard ratio, 1.951; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.06-3.592; P = 0.032). Fifteen percent (n = 32) of tumors showed reduced expression of E-cadherin and had relationship with tumoral dedifferentiation (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.004), and advanced stage (P = 0.029). Reduced expression of E-cadherin was associated with short overall survival (P = 0.028); however, in a multivariate analysis, it was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced expression of liver intestine-cadherin had a significant correlation with tumoral dedifferentiation and short overall survival in this series. In addition, early and frequent loss of liver intestine-cadherin expression might be a more sensitive indicator than E-cadherin to predict more aggressive tumoral behavior.

Bench to bedside and back again: molecular mechanisms of alpha-catenin function and roles in tumorigenesis

The cadherin/catenin complex, comprised of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and alpha-catenin, is essential for initiating cell-cell adhesion, establishing cellular polarity and maintaining tissue organization. Disruption or loss of the cadherin/catenin complex is common in cancer. As the primary cell-cell adhesion protein in epithelial cells, E-cadherin has long been studied in cancer progression. Similarly, additional roles for beta-catenin in the Wnt signaling pathway has led to many studies of the role of beta-catenin in cancer. Alpha-catenin, in contrast, has received less attention. However, recent data demonstrate novel functions for alpha-catenin in regulating the actin cytoskeleton and cell-cell adhesion, which when perturbed could contribute to cancer progression. In this review, we use cancer data to evaluate molecular models of alpha-catenin function, from the canonical role of alpha-catenin in cell-cell adhesion to non-canonical roles identified following conditional alpha-catenin deletion. This analysis identifies alpha-catenin as a prognostic factor in cancer progression.

A relação da caderina-E com o prognóstico do adenocarcinoma colorretal

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação da expressão da caderina-E com o intervalo livre de doença (ILD), com a sobrevida (S) e com o estadiamento de doentes operados por adenocarcinoma colorretal. MÉTODO: Foram estudados 89 doentes (41 homens e 48 mulheres) com média de idade de 62,3 anos. A distribuição segundo o estadiamento TNM foi: estádio I - 13 (14,6%) doentes, estádio II - 29 (32,6%), estádio III - 23 (25,8%) e estádio IV - 24 (27,0%). Sessenta e sete doentes foram submetidos à operação radical e acompanhados por um período médio de 37,9 meses. Os tumores foram examinados por técnica imuno-histoquímica e classificados como positivos ou negativos em relação à expressão da caderina-E. RESULTADOS: A caderina-E foi positiva em 49,4% e negativa em 50,6% dos doentes. A recidiva ocorreu em 22,4% dos doentes e não esteve relacionada à expressão da caderina-E. Não foi observada relação da caderina- E com intervalo livre de doença e com a sobrevida. Também não foi verificada a associação da caderina-E (p = 0,958) com o estadiamento TNM. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados verificados nesta pesquisa não permitem relacionar a expressão tissular da caderina-E com o estadiamento e o prognóstico do adenocarcinoma colorretal.

Expression of E-cadherin in human colorectal cancer

AIM

To investigate the expression of E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule in colorectal carcinoma. Antibodies to E-Cadherin were used to establish the association of their expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of this disease using immunohistochemical methods.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical analysis for E-cadherin was carried out in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of neoplastic colorectal tissues and non-neoplastic ones adjacent to the lesion from 49 patients who underwent surgery, by the standard peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Expression of this antigen in normal and malignant epithelium and stromal cells was compared.

RESULTS

Both neoplastic and normal tissues showed expression of E-cadherin. There was, however, higher expression of E-cadherin in epithelial cells in both tumour and normal tissues than stromal cells. The percentage of expression in epithelial cells of well-differentiated tumours was significantly higher than moderately differentiated tumours. Loss of normal membranous expression and the presence of cytoplasmic and mixed staining were found frequently in tumour tissues (p = 0.004). This loss of membranous expression, however, did not correlate with Duke's staging, tumour grade, sex, size or site of the tumour.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the lower expression of E-cadherin in less differentiated tumours may explain their aggressive nature, although loss of membranous expression was not significantly correlated to Duke's staging, tumour grade, sex, size and site of tumour.

Relationship between expression of E-cadherin-catenin complex and clinicopathologic characteristics of pancreatic cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin and beta-catenin in pancreatic carcinoma and its relationship with the clinicopathologic characteristics, and clarify the mechanism of invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.

METHODS: The expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-catenin was examined in 47 cases of infiltrative ductal adenocarcinoma of pancreas and 12 adult normal pancreatic tissues by immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTS: The immunoreactivity of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-catenin was expressed by normal ductal and acinar cells with strong membranous staining at the intercellular border in 12 cases of adult normal pancreatic tissues. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-catenin in 47 pancreatic carcinoma tissues was demonstrated in 53.2%, 61.7% and 68.1%, respectively. Both abnormal expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin significantly correlated with differentiation, lymph node and liver metastases (P < 0.05, respectively), whereas aberrant beta-catenin expression only correlated with lymph node and liver metastases (P < 0.001). Abnormal E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-catenin expression was not associated with tumor size, invasion and survival time of patients (P > 0.05, all).

CONCLUSION: Pancreatic cancer likely occurs in case of E-cadherin-catenin complex genes mutations or deletions and abnormal expression of proteins, which significantly correlate with the biologic character of the tumor and lymph node and liver metastases. It is suggested that the abnormal E-cadherin-catenin complex expression plays an important role in the development and progression of tumor, and thus may become a new marker in pancreatic cancer metastasis.