E-Cadherin Expression in Endometrial Malignancies: Comparison between Endometrioid and Non-Endometrioid Carcinomas

Abstract

This study examined the frequency of E-cadherin expression in endometrial biopsy or hysterectomy specimens from patients diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma and in normal endometrial tissue specimens. E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody to E-cadherin. Specimens were classified as positive when >or= 5% of the tumour cells showed staining for E-cadherin, irrespective of the pattern of staining. Twenty-three endometrioid carcinomas and nine non-endometrioid (four papillary serous and five clear cell) carcinomas were studied, along with 10 normal endometrial tissue specimens as controls. E-cadherin expression was significantly less frequent in non-endometrioid carcinomas compared with endometrioid carcinomas and controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of E-cadherin expression between endometrioid carcinomas and controls. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that uterine non-endometrioid (papillary serous and clear cell) carcinomas were less likely to express E-cadherin compared with endometrioid carcinomas and normal endometrial tissue. This may help to explain the more aggressive behaviour of non-endometrioid carcinomas.

Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia

“…As previously noted, molecular alterations that are characteristic of ESC, such as p53 mutations or down-regulation of E-cadherin, may also be seen in ECCC but at a significantly lower frequency (Lax, Pizer et al 1998;Holcomb, Delatorre et al 2002;Yalta, Atay et al 2009). On the other hand, expression of ER and PR is seen at a considerably lower rate in ECCC than is typical of EEC.…”

Extensive atherosclerosis: A potential predictor of metastatic behavior ın malignant tumors?

“…[2]. It has been suggested that agressive nature of some carcinomas might be due to a reduction in intercellular cohesiveness [2] possibly associated with decreased cadherin expression in these tumors.…”

“…It has been suggested that agressive nature of some carcinomas might be due to a reduction in intercellular cohesiveness [2] possibly associated with decreased cadherin expression in these tumors. In a previous study, we were able to demonstrate that uterine non-endometrioid carcinomas were less likely to express E-cadherin than endometrioid carcinomas and normal endometrium indicating the more aggressive nature of non-endometrioid carcinomas [2]. Therefore, local or distant metastasis in certain tumors may be attributable to a defective or reduced expression of cadherins in the tumoral tissue.…”

“…in certain tissues, it is well known to be genetically determined to a large extent. Therefore, cadherin gene may be regarded as an invasion-suppressor gene [2]. It is of possibility that subjects with a genetically determined systemic defect in cadherin expression may not only appear to be more susceptible to extensive atherogenesis, but may potentially harbor worse prognosis in the event of a malignancy as well.…”

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gynecological Cancers: Update of Literature and Perspectives of Clinical Research

“…Major molecular alterations of type-I carcinomas include PTEN silencing, PIK3CA mutations, MMR defects, MSI and K-RAS or β-catenin (CTNNB) mutations, whereas type IIcarcinomas often show p53 mutations, p16 inactivation, low E-cadherin expression, Her-2/neu overexpression, STK15 amplification and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on several chromosomes (62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67).…”