PURPOSE: We studied the expression of alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin and E-cadherin in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and normal bladder epithelium and correlated these results with pathological and clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique to examine the cellular localization of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, gamma-catenin and E-cadherin in 68 TCC and 14 normal bladder biopsies. RESULTS: E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin were expressed in a normal membranous pattern in all normal bladder epithelium specimens. Loss of normal surface E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin expression was found in 52/68 (76.4%) tumors, 57/68 (83.8%) tumors, 54/68 (79.4%) tumors and 54/68 (79.4%) tumors (p <0.001). There was a significant correlation between the loss of normal membranous expression of catenins and E-cadherin and increased grade (p <0.05). A highly significant correlation was observed between the loss of expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin, but not beta-catenin, with increased TNM stage (p <0.05). The abnormal expression of gamma-catenin as well as E-cadherin was correlated with poor survival (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: E-cadherin-gamma-catenin complex may be a useful prognostic marker in bladder cancer. Work is in progress to establish whether normal membranous catenin expression can be enhanced by gene transfer or biological therapy to induce a less invasive and metastatic phenotype.
PURPOSE: We studied the expression of alpha-, beta-, gamma- catenin and E-cadherin in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and normal bladder epithelium and correlated these results with pathological and clinical parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique to examine the cellular localization of alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, gamma-catenin and E-cadherin in 68 TCC and 14 normal bladder biopsies. RESULTS:E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin were expressed in a normal membranous pattern in all normal bladder epithelium specimens. Loss of normal surface E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and gamma-catenin expression was found in 52/68 (76.4%) tumors, 57/68 (83.8%) tumors, 54/68 (79.4%) tumors and 54/68 (79.4%) tumors (p <0.001). There was a significant correlation between the loss of normal membranous expression of catenins and E-cadherin and increased grade (p <0.05). A highly significant correlation was observed between the loss of expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and gamma-catenin, but not beta-catenin, with increased TNM stage (p <0.05). The abnormal expression of gamma-catenin as well as E-cadherin was correlated with poor survival (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS:E-cadherin-gamma-catenin complex may be a useful prognostic marker in bladder cancer. Work is in progress to establish whether normal membranous catenin expression can be enhanced by gene transfer or biological therapy to induce a less invasive and metastatic phenotype.
Authors: M J Pukkila; J A Virtaniemi; E J Kumpulainen; R T Pirinen; R T Johansson; H J Valtonen; M T Juhola; V M Kosma Journal: J Clin Pathol Date: 2001-01 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Z Popov; S Gil-Diez de Medina; M A Lefrere-Belda; A Hoznek; S Bastuji-Garin; C C Abbou; J P Thiery; F Radvanyi; D K Chopin Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2000-07 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: K M Rieger-Christ; L Ng; R S Hanley; O Durrani; H Ma; A S Yee; J A Libertino; I C Summerhayes Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2005-06-20 Impact factor: 7.640