Cilnicopathological Significance of E-Cadherin Expression in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Yu, Jeong Woo; Kim, Dong Sun; Won, Nam Hee

Abstract

PURPOSE: E-cadherin(E-CD) is a family of Ca++-dependent intercellular adhesion molecules, plays essential roles in organogenesis and in the maintenance of normal structure and function. Decreased expression of E-CD correlates with tumor aggressiveness, advanced stage and metastasis. In renal cell carcinoma(RCC), however, this correlation is not well established and prevalence of negative expression of E-CD is higher than in other carcinomas. We focused our interest on E-CD expression in RCC and its clinicopathological implications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Retrospectively, we reviewed 34 cases with RCC that were reclassified according to Mainz classification. Tumor stage, grade were determined according to the Robson method and Fuhrmann`s grading system. We detected E-CD expression in RCC by immunohistochemical staining and investigated the relationship between E-CD expression and clinicopathological features including prognosis.
RESULTS
Thirty four cases of RCC were consisted of 21 cases(61%) of non-papillary clear cell type, 2 cases(6%) of chromophil type, 3 cases(9%) of spindle cell type and 8 cases(24%) of chromophobe type by Mainz classification. Especially, E-CD expression showed a strong positive reaction along the cell membranes in all 8 cases of chromophobe type. Our immunohistochemical study of E-CD expression in 34 RCC specimens showed 73% of positive expression and 27% of negative expression. Absence of E-CD expression was correlated with the high tumor stage and grade( stage & grade 3 or 4. p<0.05 in chi-squar test). All of metastatic cases showed a negative expression of E-CD.
CONCLUSIONS
The differential expression of E-cadherin in renal cell carcinomas suggest that the tumor cell origin and differentiation. Especially, chromophobe cell type may have different biologic characteristics from other types of renal cell carcinoma. In this study, E-CD expression was seemed to be lost in RCC with a high stage and grade. In addition, preserved E-CD expression was associated with better prognosis than reduced E-CD expression.