Expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin in esophageal carcinomas and its prognostic significance: immunohistochemical analysis of 96 lesions

Oncology. 1997 Mar-Apr;54(2):158-65. doi: 10.1159/000227681.

Abstract

It has been suggested that inactivation of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system plays a role in the initial steps of cancer invasion and metastasis. Expression of E-cadherin and its intracytoplasmic binding molecules, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin was examined immunohistochemically in 96 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas to investigate the association between their expression and the prognosis for patients with esophageal cancer. Reduced E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin expression was observed in 44, 72, 73 and 88% of the tumors, respectively. Reduced E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, beta-catenin and plakoglobin expression correlated closely with the differentiation grade of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.05). Downregulation of alpha-catenin was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (p < 0.05). This result suggests that downregulation of alpha-catenin, which may reflect dysfunction of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system, is a factor indicating a poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cadherins / analysis*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / chemistry*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / analysis*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / analysis*
  • Desmoplakins
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Survival Analysis
  • Trans-Activators*
  • alpha Catenin
  • beta Catenin
  • gamma Catenin

Substances

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