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Modulation of E‐cadherin expression and morphological phenotype in the intravascular component of adenocarcinomas
Author(s) -
Cowley Gerard P.,
Smith Mark E. F.
Publication year - 1995
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.2910600308
Subject(s) - pathology , cadherin , lymph node , biology , carcinoma , metastasis , phenotype , cell adhesion molecule , lymph , cell , medicine , cancer , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , biochemistry , genetics
E‐cadherin is a morphoregulatory epithelial cell/cell adhesion molecule whose loss from carcinomas probably contributes to a more invasive tumour phenotype. Employing an immunohisto‐chemical technique on 25 adenocarcinomas (8 from stomach, 10 breast, 7 colon) we compared E‐cadherin expression and tumour morphology of carcinoma that had invaded vascular spaces with that of extravascular carcinoma, both in primary tumours and in their lymph node metastases. In 40% of cases either at the primary site, in the lymph node metastasis or at both sites, E‐cadherin levels were higher in the often tiny intravascular tumour compartment than in the adjacent and much larger extravascular tumour compartment. In no tumour was the highest area of E‐cadherin expression present within the extravascular compartment. Increases in the differentiation and cohesion of intravascular tumour occurred in 16% and 20% of cases, respectively. In 3 of 4 cases showing increased differentiation, but in only 1 of 5 cases showing increased cohesion, these morphological changes were associated with increased intravascular E‐cadherin levels. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.