The loss of E-cadherin mRNA transcripts in rat prostatic tumors is accompanied by increased expression of mRNA transcripts encoding fibronectin and its receptor.

We compared the levels of mRNA transcripts encoding E-cadherin, N-cadherin, beta 1 integrin subunit, alpha 5 integrin subunit and fibronectin in the normal rat prostate gland, as well as in tumors derived from three invasive sublines (G, MatLyLu, AT-2) of the Dunning R-3227 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma. E-cadherin mRNA transcripts were only detectable in total RNA extracts prepared from normal rat prostates, whereas N-cadherin mRNA transcripts were only found in normal rat brains. In contrast, the mRNA transcripts encoding the beta 1 integrin subunit, alpha 5 integrin subunit and fibronectin were all elevated in the tumors, as compared to the levels of these transcripts in normal tissues. Our results suggest that there is an inverse correlation between cadherin and integrin mRNA levels in rat prostatic tumors.