Skip to main content
Log in

Expression and role of cadherins in astrocytic tumors

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Brain Tumor Pathology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cadherins are Ca2+-dependent cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in tissue formation and morphogenesis in multicellular organisms. In recent years, there have been reports of cadherin involvement in tumor invasion and metastasis. Twenty-two surgical specimens and some cultured cells were studied by immunohistochemical staining. No significant difference was observed in the patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, whereas decreased expression of N-cadherin was detected at the time of recurrence in those with glioblastoma. In these groups, cerebrospinal fluid dissemination was found, and contralateral cerebral metastases and extracranial metastases were observed. We conclude that decreased N-cadherin expression at the immunohistochemically demonstrated time of recurrence correlates with tumor invasion and dissemination of cerebrospinal fluid.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Takeichi M (1977) Functional correlation between cell and cell adhesion properties and cell surface protein. J Cell Biol 75:464–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Nose A, Takeichi M (1986) A novel cadherin cell adhesion molecule: its expression patterns associated with implantation and organogenesis of mouse embryos. J Cell Biol 103:2649–2658

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hatta K, Okada TS, Takeichi M (1985) A monoclonal antibody disrupting calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion of brain tissues: possible role of its target antigen in animal pattern formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82:2789–2793

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shiozaki H, Mori T (1991) Adhesion molecules and cancer metastasis. Jpn J Cancer Chemother 18:2361–2368

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Tang A, Ellen MS, Hara M et al. (1994) E-cadherin is the major mediator of human melanocyte adhesion to keratinocyte in vitro. J Cell Sci 107:983–992

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Takeichi M, Hirano K, Matsuyoshi N et al. (1992) Cytoplasmic control of cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. Biol 57:327–334

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yoshida NC, Suzuki N, Takeichi M (1984) Molecular nature of the calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion system in mouse teratocarcinoma and embryonic cell studied with a monoclonal antibody. Dev Biol 101:19–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Vestweber D, Kemler R (1985) Identification of a putative cell adhesion domain of uvomorulin. EMBO J 4:3393–3398

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shimamura K, Takeichi M (1992) Local and transient expression of E-cadherin involved in mouse embryonic brain morphogenesis. Development 116:1011–1019

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Takeichi M, Matunaga M (1988) Cellular interaction in neurogenesis: role of receptor-like molecules. Tanpakushitsu Kakusan Khoso 33:1674–1680

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hotta K, Takagi S, Fugisawa H et al. (1987) Spatial and temporal expression pattern of N-cadherin cell adhesion molecules correlated with morphogenetic processes of chicken embryos. Dev Biol 120:215–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Letourneau PC, Shattuck TA, Roche FK, et al. (1990) Nerve growth cone migration onto Schwann cells involves the calcium-dependent adhesion molecule, N-cadherin. Dev Biol 138:430–442

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Matsunami H, Takeichi M (1995) Fetal brain subdivisions defined by R- and E-cadherin expressions: evidence for the role of cadherin activity in region-specific, cell-cell adhesion. Dev Biol 172:466–478

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Jankowski JA, Newham PM, Kandemir O et al. (1994) Differential expression of E-cadherin in normal, metaplastic and dysplastic oesophageal mucosa: a putative biomarker. Int J Pathol 4:441–448

    Google Scholar 

  15. Rasbridge SA, Gillett CE, Sampson SA et al. (1993) Epithelial (E-) and Placental (P-) cadherin cell adhesion molecule expression in breast carcinoma. J Pathol 169:245–250

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Shimoyama Y, Hirohashi S, Hirano S et al. (1989) Cadherin cell-adhesion molecules in human epithelial tissues and carcinomas. Cancer Res 49:2128–2133

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shimoyama Y, Hirohashi S (1991) Expression of E- and P-cadherin in gastric carcinomas. Cancer Res 51:2185–2192

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shiozaki H, Tahara H, Oka H et al. (1991) Expression of immunoreactive E-cadherin adhesion molecules in human cancers. AJP 139:17–23

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Miyata M, Shiozaki H, Kobayashi K et al. (1990) Correlation between expression of E-cadherin and metastases in human esophageal cancer: preliminary report. Nippon Geka Gakkaishi 91:1761

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Takeichi M (1991) Cadherin cell adhesion receptors as a morphogenetic regulator. Science 251:1451–1455

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Doki Y, Shiozaki H, Tahara H et al. (1993) Correlation between E-cadherin expression and invasiveness in vitro in a human esophageal cancer cell line. Cancer Res 53:3421–3426

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Arita N, Ushio Y, Hayakawa T et al. (1984) Meningeal gliomatosis: a study of 10 cases. Brain Nerve (Tokyo) 36:775–780

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Awad I, Bay JW, Rogers L (1986) Leptomeningeal metastasis from supratentorial malignant gliomas. Neurosurgery 19:247–251

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Choucair AK, Levin VA, Gutin PH et al. (1986) Development of multiple lesions during radiation therapy and chemotherapy in patients with gliomas. J Neurosurg 65:654–658

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Bryan P (1974) CSF seeding of intra-cranial tumors: a study of 96 cases. Clin Radiol 25:355–360

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Shinoura N, Paradies NE, Warnick RE et al. (1995) Expression of N-cadherin and α-catenin in astrocytomas and glioblastomas. Br J Cancer 72:627–633

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Walker MD, Green SB, Byar DP et al. (1980) Randomized comparisons of radiotherapy and nitrosoureas for the treatment of malignant glioma after surgery. N Engl J Med 303:1323–1329

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Friede RL, Janzer RC, Roessmann U (1982) Infantile small cell gliomas. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 57:103–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yung WA, Horten BC, Shapiro WR (1980) Meningeal gliomatosis: a review of 12 cases. Ann Neurol 8:605–608

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Asano, K., Kubo, O., Tajika, Y. et al. Expression and role of cadherins in astrocytic tumors. Brain Tumor Pathol 14, 27–33 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02478865

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02478865

Key words

Navigation