Differential expression of E-cadherin gene in human neuroepithelial tumors

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Cadherins are cell-to-cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in the establishment of adherent-type junctions by mediating calcium-dependent cellular interactions. The CDH1 gene encodes the transmembrane glycoprotein E-cadherin which is important in maintaining homophilic cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. E-cadherin interacts with catenin proteins to maintain tissue architecture. Structural defects or loss of expression of E-cadherin have been reported as a common feature in several human cancer types. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin and their correlation with clinical features in microdissected brain tumor samples from 81 patients, divided into 62 astrocytic tumors grades I to IV and 19 medulloblastomas, and from 5 white matter non-neoplasic brain tissue samples. E-cadherin (CDH1) gene expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Kaplan-Meir, and logrank tests were performed for statistical analyses. We observed a decrease in expression among pathological grades of neuroepithelial tumors. Non-neoplasic brain tissue showed a higher expression level of CDH1 gene than did neuroepithelial tumors. Expression of Ecadherin gene was higher in astrocytic than embryonal tumors (P = 0.0168). Low-grade malignancy astrocytomas (grades I-II) showed higher CDH1 expression than did high-grade malignancy astrocytomas (grades III-IV) and medulloblastomas (P < 0.0001). Non-neoplasic brain tissue showed a higher expression level of CDH1 gene than grade I malignancy astrocytomas, considered as benign tumors (P = 0.0473). These results suggest that a decrease in E-cadherin gene expression level in high-grade neuroepithelial tumors may be a hallmark of malignancy in dedifferentiated tumors and that it may be possibly correlated with their progression and dissemination.

Expression and Interactions Between Cell Adhesion Molecules CD44v6 and E-Cadherin in Human Gliomas

“…Consistent with previous studies which found that E-cadherin expression is a rare event in gliomas [4,16], in the current study the E-cadherin expression was limited to a small number of analyzed cases and a low percentage of positive brain tumor tissue. The relationship between the decreasing expression of E-cadherin and the increasing grade of malignancy observed by other authors [16] was not observed in our study. Similarly to other studies [4,16], the low expression of E-cadherin in glioblastomas was revealed in the present study.…”

“…The relationship between the decreasing expression of E-cadherin and the increasing grade of malignancy observed by other authors [16] was not observed in our study. Similarly to other studies [4,16], the low expression of E-cadherin in glioblastomas was revealed in the present study. Some authors indicate that tumor progression is accompanied by cadherin switching, resulting in down-regulation of E-cadherin and upregulation of N-cadherin and cadherin 11 expression [14,18,26].…”

“…In gliomas, the role of down-or up-regulation of E-cadherin expression is still controversial [4,16,26]. Consistent with previous studies which found that E-cadherin expression is a rare event in gliomas [4,16], in the current study the E-cadherin expression was limited to a small number of analyzed cases and a low percentage of positive brain tumor tissue. The relationship between the decreasing expression of E-cadherin and the increasing grade of malignancy observed by other authors [16] was not observed in our study.…”

“…Expression of E-cadherin protein is a rare event in tumor and normal brain tissue [4,15]. There are studies which showed that E-cadherin expression decreases with tumor grade malignancy when compared to normal brain tissue and the authors pointed out that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition might be involved in glioma progression [16,17]. Hence, in epithelial tumors down-regulation of E-cadherin leads to a decrease or loss of cell adhesion to other cells as well as detachment from the basement membrane, thereby facilitating cells motility [14].…”

Association between the CDH1-472delA and -160C>A polymorphisms and diffuse and intestinal gastric cancer in a Mexican population

“…The cell adhesion protein E-cadherin plays a major role in maintaining the structure and function of epithelial tissues. Reduced or null E-cadherin expression has been correlated with infiltrative capacity and metastasis in GC, as well as other types of cancer, such as breast, colorectal, and neuroepithelial tumors (Motta et al, 2008;Abascal et al, 2016).…”