Korean J Gynecol Oncol Colposc.  2003 Jun;14(2):133-139.

A Study on the Abnormal Expression of E-Cadherin/alpha-Catenin during Tumor Progression in Squamous Carcinoma of Uterine Cervix

• Kim JS
• Heo JS
• Kim HB
• Shim JW
• Jun HA
• Lee KY
• Kang SW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
E-cadherins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins involved in epithelial specific and calcium- dependent intercellular adhesion. E-cadherin function is regulated by its associated cytoplasmic protein, alpha-catenin, which links E-cadherin to the actin-based cytoskeleton. This study is to determine what lack and differrence in expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin between benign, CIS, and invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix.
METHODS
89 tissue specimens were obtained by punch biopsy, conization, and hysterectomies. Sections were classified according to FIGO staging as benign cervix, carcinoma in situ, invasive cervical carcinoma. The expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin was examined immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies. What degree in expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin in three group was investigated. The chi2 test was used to assess the statistical significance of this study.
RESULTS
The correlation between the altered expression of E-cadherin/alpha-catenin and the histopathologic diagnosis was statistically significant.
CONCLUSION
According to this result, we found that the distribution and intensity in expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin is altered during tumor progression of cervical carcinoma.

Keyword

E-cadherin; alpha-catenin; Cervical carcinoma

MeSH Terms

alpha Catenin
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Biopsy
Cadherins
Carcinoma in Situ
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*
Cervix Uteri*
Conization
Cytoplasm
Cytoskeleton
Diagnosis
Female
Glycoproteins
Humans
Hysterectomy
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Cadherins
Glycoproteins
alpha Catenin