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Sequential analysis of cadherin expression in a 4-year-old girl with intracranial ependymoma

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Abstract

Introduction

Cadherins are Ca2+-dependent cell-to-cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in tissue construction and morphogenesis in multicellular organisms. Cadherin involvement in tumor metastasis has recently been reported.

Case report

We investigated the expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in paraffin-embedded sequential surgical specimens and autopsy specimens from a 4-year-old girl with recurrent ependymoma, subsequent to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination. We observed low expression of E-cadherin in all surgical specimens and autopsy specimens. In contrast, expression of N-cadherin was high in all surgical specimens, but was decreased in autopsy specimens.

Conclusion

Decreased expression of N-cadherin may be associated with CSF dissemination and may serve as a useful marker for CSF dissemination in patients with intracranial ependymoma.

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Correspondence to Masaharu Akiyama.

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Yokoi, K., Akiyama, M., Yanagisawa, T. et al. Sequential analysis of cadherin expression in a 4-year-old girl with intracranial ependymoma. Childs Nerv Syst 23, 237–242 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-006-0197-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-006-0197-1

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