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The cell adhesion molecule, E‐cadherin, distinguishes mesothelial cells from carcinoma cells in fluids
Author(s) -
Schofield Kevin,
D'Aquila Thomas,
Rimm David L.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
cancer cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19971025)81:5<293::aid-cncr7>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - mesothelial cell , pathology , cadherin , medicine , carcinoma , staining , epithelial cell adhesion molecule , antibody , cell , biology , immunology , genetics
BACKGROUND The distinction between benign reactive mesothelial cells and well differentiated carcinoma can be difficult in pleural, peritoneal, and especially pericardial fluids. E‐cadherin is an adhesion protein that is specifically expressed in cells of epithelial lineage. In this study, anti‐E‐cadherin antibodies were used to identify and distinguish carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells. METHODS Pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial fluids were prepared using the Cytyc Thin Prep™ processor. The specimens were comprised of a mix of 45 cases that were diagnosed as carcinoma, suspicious, or reactive by Papanicolaou staining of routine material seen by the authors' service. Routine immunologic techniques were used with a commercially available E‐cadherin antibody. RESULTS In most cases of carcinoma, tumor cells showed a strong positive membranous reaction product (32 of 37). This included four cases that were not cytomorphologically diagnosed as malignant, but subsequently proved to be malignant. E‐cadherin staining was not observed in five tumors, two of which were not expected to express this protein. One benign case showed cells staining for E‐cadherin, although the cells were not malignant by morphologic criteria. Because this case was a surgical pelvic washing, these cells more likely were epithelial contaminants than true false‐positives. CONCLUSIONS The epithelial specific cell‐cell adhesion marker E‐cadherin reliably distinguishes reactive mesothelial cells from carcinoma and is a useful adjunctive test to distinguish benign reactive mesothelial cells from well differentiated carcinoma cells in fluid specimens. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 1997; 81:293‐8. © 1997 American Cancer Society.