Complex cadherin expression in human prostate cancer cells

Int J Cancer. 2000 Feb 1;85(3):446-50.

Abstract

Changes in cell-cell interactions are critical in the process of cancer progression. Likewise, it has been shown that loss of expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin is associated with grade, stage, and prognosis in many carcinomas, including prostate cancer. Impaired E-cadherin-mediated interactions result in an invasive phenotype; however, the mere loss of cell-cell contact and communication is not the sole explanation for the observed correlation between loss of E-cadherin-mediated adhesion and poor clinical outcome. Using a degenerate cloning strategy for sequences that are highly conserved between the various cadherins, we found several other cadherins (N- and P-cadherin and cadherin-4, -6, and -11) to be expressed in human prostate cancer cells. Our data suggest that besides loss of E-cadherin function, also (upregulation of) expression of other cadherins is involved in the acquisition of an invasive and/or metastatic phenotype. Especially, changes in the expression of N-cadherin and cadherin-11 may play an important role in prostate cancer progression.

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Northern
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cadherins / analysis*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / analysis
  • Desmoplakins
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • alpha Catenin
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • CTNNA1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Desmoplakins
  • Trans-Activators
  • alpha Catenin
  • beta Catenin