Alteration in adhesion molecules expression in normal, hyperplastic and malignant endometrium

ABSTRACT

Adhesion molecules such as cadherins and CD44 are transmembrane glycoproteins with diverse functions in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and may be determinants of invasive and metastatic behavior in carcinomas. The immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and CD44 in tissue samples from 30 cases; 6 normal 9 hyperplastic and 15 endometrial carcinomas were studied using monoclonal antibodies against both molecules. E-cadherin expression was significantly lower in carcinomas versus normal [P=0.012] endometrium; its expression was inversely correlated with the grade of the tumor [P=0.02], nuclear grade [P=0.029] and tumor stage [P=0.038]. In contrast, an overexpression of CD44 was detected in endometrial carcinomas compared to normal [P=0.041] and hyperplastic endometrium [P= 0.022] while higher expression was noted in higher grade carcinomas, higher nuclear grade and more advanced stage but with non significant changes. Both molecules were associated with deep myometrial invasion, lymphatic permeation and lymph node metastasis. Alteration of E-cadherin and CD44 expression seemed to be related to local invasion and dissemination of the disease