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E‐cadherin cell‐adhesion molecule expression as a diagnostic adjunct in urothelial cytology
Author(s) -
Ross Jeffrey S.,
Cheung Chhieng,
Sheehan Christine,
del Rosario Arthur D.,
Bui Hai X.,
Fisher Hugh A.G.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0339(199605)14:4<310::aid-dc6>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - pathology , medicine , cytology , staining , immunohistochemistry , urothelial cell , cadherin , urinary bladder , metastasis , biopsy , transitional cell , transitional cell carcinoma , bladder cancer , cell , cancer , urothelium , urology , chemistry , biochemistry
Abstract E‐cadherin (E‐CD) is a cell‐adhesion molecule that has been associated with invasion and metastasis in a wide variety of human neoplasms. We have recently shown that, although decreased E‐CD expression is associated with increased bladder‐wall invasion and higher tumor grade of infiltrating transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), E‐CD expression in the exophytic portion of pure papillary and papillary‐infiltrating TCC is increased over that of normal transitional cells. To evaluate whether E‐CD levels could serve as a diagnostic adjunct in urinary cytology specimens, we stained 40 alcohol‐fixed bladder‐washing cytospin preparations with an avidin‐biotin‐peroxidase method using a monoclonal antibody to E‐CD (Sigma Chemical Co., St. Louis, MO). E‐CD expression level was defined as a high‐intensity or low‐intensity staining increase over background squamous cell staining for the transitional cells in 21 biopsy‐proven transitional cell carcinomas with papillary components, and in 19 benign or reactive control specimens. Twenty‐one of 21 TCC (100%) showed an increased E‐CD level over background, with 13 low‐intensity and 8 high‐intensity cases. Ten of 19 benign cases (53%) showed increased E‐CD staining over background, with 8 low‐intensity and 2 high‐intensity cases. This difference between malignant and benign specimens was statistically significant (chi‐square test, P = 0.001). We conclude that increased E‐CD expression in the papillary components of TCC can be identified in urinary cytology specimens, may reflect the physical and chemical structural makeup of papillary architecture, and warrants further study as a diagnostic adjunct in the interpretation of urine cytology specimens. Diagn Cytopathol 1996;14:310–315. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.