Adhesion molecules expression as a potential marker of prostate cancer aggressivity. A TMA study of radical prostatectomy specimens.

Adhesion molecule disorders may be important in different cell control pathways, and consequently in neoplastic cell disorders. This paper will consider only some of the aspects of intercellular relationship. The main anchoring molecule of these two structures is E-cadherin, which is bound to a molecule complex (catenins and vinculin) that connects it to the actin of the cytoplasmatic cytoskeleton. This adhesion molecule complex maintains cell adhesion but it is also involved in differentiation phenomena and may be pathways of action of different growth factors. When we study the expression of E-cadherin according to the Gleason pattern, we verify progressive loss of the adhesion molecule as the Gleason grade increases (abnormal in 35% of Gleason < 7 score versus 75% in cases of Gleason > 7 score). This correlation reinforces the idea of using the expression of adhesion molecules as a prognostic factor. Considering the great interrelation between the various cell-cycle regulating systems, it is probable that an approach to this interweaving through regulation and de-regulation of the adhesion molecule expression may turn out to be one of the most useful pathways in the future.