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The prognostic value of E‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin in bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy
Author(s) -
Kashibuchi Keishi,
Tomita Kyoichi,
Schalken Jack A,
Kume Haruki,
Takeuchi Takumi,
Kitamura Tadaichi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1442-2042
pISSN - 0919-8172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2007.01830.x
Subject(s) - cystectomy , medicine , bladder cancer , catenin , stage (stratigraphy) , immunohistochemistry , oncology , survival analysis , lymph node , pathology , cancer , wnt signaling pathway , biology , gene , paleontology , biochemistry
Objectives: To determine the value of the loss of expression of E‐cadherin and cadherin associated molecules as useful markers for both prognosis and chemosensitivity in bladder cancer patients who have undergone radical cystectomy. Patients and Methods: In 55 paraffin embedded specimens of radical cystectomy at our hospital from 1982 to 2000, the expression of E‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin was examined by immunohistochemical staining. To evaluate the prognostic significance of these molecules, Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were constructed and a statistical analysis was calculated by a log‐rank test. A multivariate test (tumor stage, tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, configuration, the expression of E‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin) was performed to detect prognostic markers. Results: Normal expression was found in 33 cases (60.0%) for E‐cadherin, 29 (52.7%) for α‐catenin, 31 cases (56.4%) for β‐catenin, and 31 cases (56.4%) for γ‐catenin. The expression patterns for E‐cadherin, α‐, β‐ and γ‐catenin were significantly correlated with each other ( P < 0.01). Survival analysis showed a significant difference between normal and aberrant expression in each staining. A multivariate analysis revealed that the expression of α‐ catenin was an independent prognostic factor ( P = 0.0191). In 23 patients that received adjuvant chemotherapy, there was a significant difference in survival between the normal and aberrant expression of α‐catenin, but not other molecules. Conclusion: Alpha‐catenin may not only be a good prognostic marker, but also one of key molecules that determine the chemosensitivities in patients with invasive bladder cancer.