Re‐expression of E‐cadherin, α‐catenin and β‐catenin, but not of γ‐catenin, in metastatic tissue from breast cancer patients

IK Bukholm, JM Nesland… - The Journal of …, 2000 - Wiley Online Library
IK Bukholm, JM Nesland, AL Børresen‐Dale
The Journal of pathology, 2000Wiley Online Library
Tumour cell invasion and metastasis are the processes which kill most cancer patients.
Tumour cells with the greatest invasive and metastatic capacity may be those with the
highest number of genetic aberrations. The present study has analysed the expression of
several tumour‐related proteins in both primary tumours and metastatic lesions from 34
breast cancer patients. Protein expression of p53, bcl‐2, p21, cyclin D1, E‐cadherin, α‐
catenin, β‐catenin, and γ‐catenin was investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using …
Abstract
Tumour cell invasion and metastasis are the processes which kill most cancer patients. Tumour cells with the greatest invasive and metastatic capacity may be those with the highest number of genetic aberrations. The present study has analysed the expression of several tumour‐related proteins in both primary tumours and metastatic lesions from 34 breast cancer patients. Protein expression of p53, bcl‐2, p21, cyclin D1, E‐cadherin, α‐catenin, β‐catenin, and γ‐catenin was investigated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using monoclonal antibodies. Metastatic tissue showed a different expression profile from the primary tumour in most patients. The most significant finding was the re‐expression of E‐cadherin, α‐catenin, and β‐catenin, and increased down‐regulation of γ‐catenin, in metastatic lesions. These results demonstrate that tumour cells, when released from the primary site and after regrowth elsewhere, are capable of re‐expression of adhesion molecules. γ‐catenin may play a different role in metastatic lesions than in primary tumours, since it is selectively down‐regulated in tumour tissue at the metastatic site. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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