Patterns of α- and β-catenin and E-cadherin expression in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas

Abstract

Previous in vitro and in vivo model studies have shown that when E‐cadherin expression in carcinoma cells is reduced, invasive behaviour ensues. The situation in human cancer in vivo, however, appears to be more complex, as immunohistochemically determined E‐cadherin expression in various carcinomas, including colorectal cancer, does not always correlate with invasive growth. Loss of cell adhesion during invasion in spite of E‐cadherin expression might be associated with a defective cadherin–catenin complex. The expression of α‐ and β‐catenin in comparison with E‐cadherin was therefore examined in colorectal adenomas and carcinomas and in lymph node and liver metastases. In normal colonic mucosa, α‐ and β‐catenin immunoreactivity occurred along the lateral plasma membranes of the epithelial cells, in a pattern identical to E‐cadherin staining. A similar pattern was found in colorectal adenomas and in most malignancies. In general, in neoplastic epithelia, the majority of the cancer cells displayed a normal (matching) pattern of E‐cadherin and catenin expression. It is concluded that the patterns of expression of E‐cadherin and α‐ and β‐catenin are very similar in colorectal neoplasms. This observation indicates that invasion in colorectal cancer is not paralleled by consistent loss of expression of the components of the cadherin–catenin complex. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

α-Catenin expression has prognostic value in local and locally advanced prostate cancer

“…A similar relationship between high grade and α-catenin abnormalities has been previously reported both in prostate cancer (Richmond et al, 1997) and in other epithelial The survival of patients with a T1-2 M0 tumour categorized according to the expression of α-catenin (P = 0.1, χ 2 = 2.6). Curve A: α-catenin normal, n = 121; Curve B: α-catenin abnormal, n = 14 neoplasms (Rimm et al, 1995;Shimazui et al, 1997;van der Wurff et al, 1997). α-catenin abnormalities were frequently detected in tumours showing perineural growth which indicates that α-catenin abnormalities also favour invasive growth in vivo.…”

“…Previous studies indicate that E-cadherin expression correlates inversely with tumour grade and stage in various cancers (Breen et al, 1995;Rimm et al, 1995;van der Wurff et al, 1997), including prostate cancer (Umbas et al, 1994;Crundwell et al, 1997;Murant et al, 1997;Paul et al, 1997;Richmond et al, 1997), and it seems to have prognostic value (Umbas et al, 1994;Richmond et al, 1997). The significance of α-catenin is not completely understood in prostate cancer progression (Crundwell et al, 1997;Murant et al, 1997;Paul et al, 1997;Richmond et al, 1997;Umbas et al, 1997).…”

E-Cadherin and β-Catenin mRNA Levels Throughout Colon Cancer Progression

“…It may be thought that the hepatic environment influences the expression of these genes in metastatic colon cancer cells. Previous reports have been conflicting regarding E-cadherin and ␤-catenin expression in colorectal liver metastases in comparison with primary tumors; they were either coincident or significantly increased [11,31]. In breast carcinomas, a possible re-expression of E-cadherin and ␤-catenin in the metastatic lesions from primary tumors was described [32].…”

Decreased expression of catenins (? and ?), p120 CTN, and E-cadherin cell adhesion proteins and E-cadherin gene promoter methylation in prostatic adenocarcinomas

“…1,2 Decreased expression of Ecadherin and other CAMs has been reported to have prognostic significance in various human cancers including those arising from esophagus, 3 colon, 4 breast, 5 nasopharynx, 6 bile duct, 7 and stomach. 8 With regard to prostate carcinoma, we 9 and others 10 -13 have reported correlation between decreased E-cadherin expression and prognostic variables including tumor grade, stage, and ploidy.…”