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Altered expression of β-catenin, E-cadherin, and E-cadherin promoter methylation in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

  • Research Article
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Tumor Biology

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and Ki-67, as well as the promoter methylation of E-cadherin gene in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), as well as to find a possible relationship between the immunoexpression and hypermethylation. Promoter methylation was studied using methylation-specific PCR in 86 malignant cases, 14 low malignant potential (LMP) tumors and 19 benign cystadenomas. Immunohistochemical expression was carried out in 64 malignant cases, 8 LMP tumors, and 11 benign cystadenomas. Immunoexpression of E-cadherin was reduced in EOC, while 100 % expression was seen in LMP tumors and benign cystadenomas. An interesting observation was the nuclear expression of E-cadherin in a high percentage of cancers, which showed a positive correlation with Ki-67. Β-Catenin expression showed heterogeneous localization with increased nuclear localization, which was significantly higher in cases that did not express E-cadherin. Promoter methylation of E-cadherin was 36, 14, and 11 % in EOC, LMP tumors, and benign cystadenomas, respectively. Our results suggest that reduced expression of E-cadherin is associated with promoter methylation of E-cadherin gene, in addition to providing evidence for the aberrant nuclear localization of E-cadherin in EOC.

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Acknowledgment

Rahul Bhagat acknowledges the Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi for providing a senior research fellowship for the present study. The authors thank Dr Sanjay Navani for helping in construction of tissue microarray. We also thank Mr Prashant T. H and Mr Shivshankar for help in IHC staining of tissue microarray slides.

Ethical clearance

The study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee and all samples were collected after obtaining written, informed consent from patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Dr. M. H. Marigowda Road, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Rahul Bhagat, V. Shilpa, V. R. Pallavi, G. Ramesh & Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy

  2. Department of Pathology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Dr. M. H. Marigowda Road, Bangalore, 560029, India

    C. S. Premalata

  3. Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Dr. M.H. Marigowda Road, Bangalore, 560029, India

    C. R. Vijay

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  1. Rahul Bhagat
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Correspondence to Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy.

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Bhagat, R., Premalata, C.S., Shilpa, V. et al. Altered expression of β-catenin, E-cadherin, and E-cadherin promoter methylation in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Tumor Biol. 34, 2459–2468 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-0797-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-013-0797-9

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