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Reduced E-cadherin and α-catenin expressions have no prognostic role in bladder carcinoma

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

In various human cancers, dysfunction of the E-cad-herin-catenin complex is associated with a decrease in cellular and tissue differentiation, and with higher invasive and metastatic potentials. The objective of this study was to investigate E-cadherin and α-catenin expression in superficial noninvasive papillary TCC and invasive TCC, and correlate these results with pathological and clinical parameters. We have used immunohistochemistry to localize Ecadherin and α-catenin in 56 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 41 patients with superficial bladder cancer and 15 with invasive bladder cancer. The 46 male and 10 female patients had a mean age of 67 years, with range of 40 to 82 years. The mean follow-up time was 33.4 (range 5–120) months. Tumor grade 1:2:3 ratios were 5:32:19. In superficial bladder tumor, abnormal expression of E-cadherin and a-catenin was demonstrated in 37 and 71% of the tumors, respectively. In advanced bladder tumor, abnormal expression of E-cadherin and a-catenin was demonstrated in 80 and 100% of the tumors, respectively. Differences in expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin could be discerned between superficial and advanced bladder tumors (p=0.004, p=0.024, respectively). However, the association between E-cadherin and α-catenin expression and tumor grade was not statistically significant (p>0.05). In addition, the expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin did not correlate with tumor number and size (p>0.05). We have demonstrated that abnormal expression of E-cadherin and/or α-catenin occurs in more than 85% of bladder carcinomas and correlates significantly only with advanced stage. Nevertheless, these observations need to be confirmed in larger prospective clinical studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Dumlupinar Bulvari, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey

    Ismail Turker Koksal M.D., Mutlu Ates, Ahmet Danisman & Metin Sevuk

  2. Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey

    Cem Sezer, Akif Ciftcioglu & Gulten Karpuzoglu

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  1. Ismail Turker Koksal M.D.
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  2. Mutlu Ates
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  3. Ahmet Danisman
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  4. Cem Sezer
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  7. Metin Sevuk
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Correspondence to Ismail Turker Koksal M.D..

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Koksal, I.T., Ates, M., Danisman, A. et al. Reduced E-cadherin and α-catenin expressions have no prognostic role in bladder carcinoma. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 12, 13–19 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893426

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893426

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