The loss of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin expression is associated with metastasis and poor prognosis in invasive breast cancer.

:Loss of E-cadherin and catenin expression may be associated with distant and lymph node metastases in breast cancer. Heterogeneity of E-cadherin expression is associated with poor prognosis, suggesting that E-cadherin and catenins may serve as useful prognostic markers for invasive breast carcinoma. Reduction or loss of expression of either E-cadherin or catenins is associated with invasion, metastasis and poor prognosis in several types of human malignancies. We investigated the expression of E-cadherin, and alpha- and beta-catenins by immunohistochemistry in 171 cases of primary invasive breast cancer, and compared the expression with clinicopathological parameters to define the relationship between expression and prognosis. E-cadherin immunoreactive protein was shown to be expressed in 97 cases. Reduction or lack of expression of E-cadherin was associated with distant metastasis. Based on immunohistochemical heterogeneity, E-cadherin-positive tumors were classified into heterogeneous, homogeneous and intermediate types. Interestingly, although patients with heterogeneous type demonstrated the lowest incidence of distant metastasis at diagnosis, they showed a higher incidence of subsequent distant metastasis, after surgery, and a lower survival rate than those with homogeneous type (p<0.05). E-cadherin expression was reduced or negative in metastatic axillary lymph nodes regardless of the expression in the primary tumor, suggesting that changes in E-cadherin expression are associated with not only distant metastasis but also lymph node metastasis. Tumors negative for either alpha- or beta-catenin expression demonstrated a higher incidence of distant metastasis than those expressing both catenins, suggesting that the expression of catenins is involved in breast cancer metastasis. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin and catenin expression may be associated with distant and lymph node metastases in invasive breast cancer, and the heterogeneous type may be associated with poor prognosis.

Yoshida R ，Kimura N ，Harada Y ，Ohuchi N ... -  《INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY》

An immunohistochemical examination of the expression of E-cadherin, alpha- and beta/gamma-catenins, and alpha2- and beta1-integrins in invasive breast cancer.

This study examines the expression of the cell-cell adhesion molecules E-cadherin and its associated proteins, the catenins and the matrix-cell adhesion molecules beta1- and alpha2-integrins, in primary invasive breast carcinoma. Expression was assessed immunohistochemically on frozen sections by semi-quantitative scoring of the intensity and proportion of immunoreactivity in 55 cases. Associations with each other and with other histological and prognostic features and survival were sought. There was a significant association between loss of E-cadherin expression and loss of alpha- and beta/gamma-catenin immunostaining. In 20 per cent of cases, membranous immunoreactivity with E-cadherin antibody was absent. Absent cytoplasmic expression of alpha- and beta/gamma-catenins was seen in 24 and 22 per cent of breast cancers, respectively. The intensity of reactivity with E-cadherin showed a significant association with histological grade (p=0.002) and tumour type (p<0.001). Lobular carcinomas frequently showed loss of expression of E-cadherin, as reported elsewhere; loss of catenin expression was also found in these tumours. alpha-catenin intensity also showed a relationship with grade (p=0.008) and with oestrogen receptor (ER) status (p=0.006). beta/gamma-catenin expression was not associated with other known prognostic factors. Forty-nine per cent and 42 per cent of cases showed no membrane immunostaining with beta1- and alpha2-integrin, respectively, and co-ordinated loss of beta1- and alpha2-integrin expression was found. Both beta1- and alpha2-integrin expression were associated with histological grade (p=0.003 and p=0.031, respectively) and beta1 immunoreactivity with tumour type (p=0.010). None of the variables examined showed a statistically significant association with tumour size or lymph node stage, or with overall survival, although a trend was seen (p=0.087) towards poorer survival of patients with tumours with absent or weak expression of beta1-integrin. The expression of these markers is of biological interest, but appears to be of little additional use in predicting clinical behaviour.

Gonzalez MA ，Pinder SE ，Wencyk PM ，Bell JA ，Elston CW ，Nicholson RI ，Robertson JF ，Blamey RW ，Ellis IO ... -  《JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY》

[Relationship between the expression of E-cadherin-catenins and alpha-, beta-, gamma-catenin and the metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer].

Zou W ，Hu CH ，Zhou JP 《-》

Re-expression of the cadherin-catenin complex in lymph nodes with metastasis in advanced gastric cancer: the relationship with patient survival.

Liu J ，Ikeguchi M ，Nakamura S ，Kaibara N ... -  《-》

E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin protein expression in relation to metastasis in human breast carcinoma.

Bukholm IK ，Nesland JM ，Kåresen R ，Jacobsen U ，Børresen-Dale AL ... -  《JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY》