Reduced expression of
E-cadherin, a Ca(2+)-dependent
cell adhesion molecule present in normal epithelium, has been associated with invasive and metastatic
cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used in examining the relationship between
E-cadherin expression and stage in 59 oesophageal and 52
lung cancers. Advanced-stage oesophageal
cancers were associated with both reduced and disorganised
E-cadherin expression (P < 0.01). Advanced-stage
lung adenocarcinomas generally exhibited disorganised or reduced
E-cadherin expression, but no statistical association between expression pattern and stage was found (P > 0.05). No differences in stage were seen between tumours with reduced or disorganised
E-cadherin expression. Altered
E-cadherin expression was detected in dysplastic, non-invasive Barrett's oesophagus. Importantly, high-level
E-cadherin expression was detected in 17 of 17 lymph nodes containing metastatic
cancer.
E-cadherin mRNA expression was decreased in tumours with reduced
protein expression, but not in tumours with disorganised expression. Expression of
alpha-catenin mRNA, an
E-cadherin-associated
protein, was detected in tissues with altered
E-cadherin protein expression. Reduced and disorganised expression of
E-cadherin appear to be related to transcriptional and post-translational events respectively, and both appear to represent altered cell adhesion associated with invasion and
metastasis in
thoracic neoplasms.