Immunohistochemical expression of CD44 standard and E-cadherin in atypical leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the uterus

A family of cell adhesion molecules have been associated with tumorigenesis and tumour cell invasion. Cadherins and CD44 isoforms are transmembrane glycoproteins. Uterine smooth muscle tumours range from leiomyomas to leiomyosarcomas. However, separating malignant from benign can be difficult in a subset of smooth muscle tumours. Cell adhesion molecules expression may have diagnostic utility in the distinction of leiomyosarcoma from atypical leiomyoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic tool role of CD44 standard and E-cadherin in atypical leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma. Paraffin blocks of 35 atypical leiomyoma and 22 leiomyosarcoma were analysed immunohistochemically for the expression CD44 standard and E-cadherin protein. Expression of CD44 standard was positive in all cases, while E-cadherin was negative. In this study, CD44 and E-cadherin were not useful for diagnostic tool to differentiate atypical leiomyoma from leiomyosarcoma.