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Soluble N‐cadherin in human biological fluids
Author(s) -
Derycke Lara,
De Wever Olivier,
Stove Veronique,
Vanhoecke Barbara,
Delanghe Joris,
Depypere Herman,
Bracke Marc
Publication year - 2006
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/ijc.22219
Subject(s) - cadherin , prostate cancer , transmembrane protein , cancer , immunoprecipitation , extracellular , biology , prostate , cancer research , antibody , pathology , cell , medicine , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , receptor
Classical cadherins such as E‐, P‐ and N‐cadherin are transmembrane proteins that mediate cell–cell adhesion, and are important in embryogenesis, maintenance of tissue integrity and cancer. Proteolytic shedding of the extracellular domain results in the generation of soluble E‐, P‐ or N‐cadherin ectodomains. Circulating soluble E‐ and P‐cadherin have been described in the serum, and elevated levels were detected in cancer patients when compared with healthy persons. Here we report the presence of soluble N‐cadherin, a 90‐kD protein fragment, in the serum of both healthy persons and cancer patients, using a direct ELISA and immunoprecipitation. A correlation was found between prostate specific antigen and soluble N‐cadherin, and significantly elevated levels were detected in prostate cancer follow‐up patients. The N‐cadherin protein is neo‐expressed by carcinomas of the prostate, and is responsible for epithelial to fibroblastic transition. This is reflected by the higher concentrations of soluble N‐cadherin in prostate cancer patients than in healthy persons. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.