E-CADHERIN EXPRESSION IN FOUR KINDS OF CARCINOMAS AND THEIR RELATIONS TO DIFFERENTIATION AND METASTASIS

Objective: To obtain the pattern and reactivity extent of E-cadherin and correlation with clinicopathological data including tumor type, grade, and lymph node status. Methods: Expression of E-cadherin has been examined in 20 gastric carcinomas; 21 colorectal carcinomas; 20 uterocervical carcinomas and 20 breast carcinomas using an immunohistochemical technique. Results: There were similar patterns among four kinds of cancer. Tumors with a decreased E-cadherin occurred significantly more frequently in poor differentiated carcinomas. There was association between membrane levels of E-cadherin and the presence of lymph node metastasis, but the difference was not significant. Conclusions: E-cadherin expression of the noncancerous areas is higher than that of the cancerous areas. The decreased E-cadherin expression correlates with dedifferentiation. The relation between the E-cadherin expression and the metastasis is complex and need much more research. There are similar patterns among four types of cancer. For that, immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin may have clinicopathologic value for patients with cancer.