Co-ordinated changes in expression of cell adhesion molecules in prostate cancer

• Published in: European journal of cancer (1990) 1997-02, Vol.33 (2), p.263-271
• Main Authors: Murant, S.J., Handley, J., Stower, M., Reid, N., Cussenot, O., Maitland, N.J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; adhesion molecules; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; cadherin; Cadherins - metabolism; catenin; CD44; Cell Adhesion Molecules - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Disease Progression; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; integrin; Male; Medical sciences; Neoplasm Proteins - metabolism; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; prostate cancer; Prostatic Hyperplasia - metabolism; Prostatic Hyperplasia - pathology; Prostatic Neoplasms - metabolism; Prostatic Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors of the urinary system; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 0959-8049; 1879-0852
• DOI: 10.1016/S0959-8049(96)00418-2

The expressions of E-cadherin, the integrin subunits β 1, β 2, β 3, CD44 and α-catenin were studied in parallel by immunohistochemistry in a series of 40 prostate biopsies comprising one normal, 11 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and 28 prostatic adenocarcinomas. As reported by others, there was a consistent loss of E-cadherin expression with increasing tumour grade and de-differentiation. However, a significant proportion of losses occurred at earlier grades than previously reported. The parallel nature of this study showed, for the first time in human prostate carcinoma, a reciprocal expression pattern of E-cadherin and β 1 integrin in the higher grades of prostate cancer. A reciprocal expression pattern was also found for E-cadherin and CD44 between moderately and poorly differentiated tumours. α-Catenin expression was downregulated only in those cells which had previously lost E-cadherin expression, and β 2 and β 3 integrin were rarely expressed in prostate tumours. A loss of expression of the luminal epithelial specific keratins CK8 and CK18 was also observed in advanced stage, poorly differentiated carcinomas.