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Alteration of β‐catenin expression in esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Ninomiya Itasu,
Endo Yoshio,
Fushida Sachio,
Sasagawa Toshiyuki,
Miyashita Tomoharu,
Fujimura Takashi,
Nishimura Genichi,
Tani Takashi,
Hashimoto Tetsuo,
Yagi Masao,
Shimizu Kouichi,
Ohta Tetsuo,
Yonemura Yutaka,
Inoue Masaki,
Sasaki Takuma,
Miwa Koichi
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(20000315)85:6<757::aid-ijc3>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - catenin , carcinoma , esophageal squamous cell carcinoma , basal cell , beta catenin , esophageal disease , medicine , pathology , cancer research , oncology , esophagus , biology , wnt signaling pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction
β‐catenin regulates cadherin‐mediated cell‐cell adhesion and also functions as a signaling molecule. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of E‐cadherin, α‐catenin and β‐catenin in 22 cases of esophageal squamous‐cell carcinoma by Western‐blot analysis. Expression of E‐cadherin, α‐catenin and β‐catenin was lower in carcinomas than in normal esophageal mucosa in 4 cases (18.2%) for E‐cadherin, 6 cases (27.3%) for α‐catenin and 9 cases (40.9%) for β‐catenin. Expression of β‐catenin was not always correlated with that of E‐cadherin. Over‐expression of β‐catenin was observed in 3 cases (13.6%). Of 3 cases that presented with over‐expression of β‐catenin, 2 showed cytoplasmic staining by immunohistochemistry. Nuclear localization of β‐catenin was observed in one case that had higher β‐catenin level in tumor tissue (1.4‐fold higher than normal mucosa). The genomic DNA sequences of the β‐catenin and the APC gene were analyzed. No mutation of the β‐catenin gene was observed in any cases. Silent mutation of the APC gene was found in all the cases that showed over‐expression or nuclear localization of the β‐catenin protein. These results indicate that alterations of the cadherin‐catenin complex may play an important role in a sub‐set of esophageal carcinogenesis. Furthermore, it is suggested that β‐catenin over‐expression is not caused by genetic alteration of either the β‐catenin or the APC gene. Int. J. Cancer 85:757–761, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.