E-cadherin and integrin cell adhesion molecule expression in invasive and in situ carcinoma of the cervix.

Integrin and E-cadherin cell adhesion molecules are important in the maintenance of normal epithelial structures, and altered expression of these molecules may be important in epithelial tumors, particularly in the processes of invasion and metastasis. This study examines the immunohistochemical expression of the alpha2beta1, alpha3beta1, alpha6, and beta4 integrins and of E-cadherin in high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and in invasive carcinoma of the cervix. Abnormal expression of E-cadherin and of all of the integrin subunits examined was detected in the dysplastic epithelium in CIN in the majority of cases, but in a minority of cases this expression was lost in the superficial layers of the dysplastic epithelium. Diffuse expression of E-cadherin and of all of the integrins was seen in the majority of cases of invasive cervical carcinoma. Abnormal expression of integrin cell adhesion molecules occurs in the majority of cases of high-grade CIN, and E-cadherin expression is retained in the dysplastic epithelium. Diffuse expression of integrins and of E-cadherin also occurs in invasive carcinoma, but as the expression pattern was similar in all cases of carcinoma, no correlation with outcome is possible and the significance of this expression is unclear.