Cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin and cellular proliferation marker AgNOR in bladder lesions--usefulness and limitations.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study on bladder lesions was to assess the relationship of (a) the proliferative activity measured by AgNOR counts, and (b) the loss of cell adhesion leading to acquisition of invasive properties as assessed by E-Cadherin expression. Paraffin embedded tissue biopsies from normal urothelium and malignant urothelial lesions were randomly selected from our surgical pathology files. AgNORs were analysed by the silver staining method and E_cadherin expression by immunohistochemistry. An increase in M&P AgNOR counts was observed from normal through benign to malignant tumors. A corresponding decrease in E Cadherin expression was noticed from normal through different grades of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). A correlation was found between a high P AgNOR and decreased E_cadherin expression with stromal and muscle invasive tumors. It is deduced that when low grade tumors show a high P AgNOR and loss of E_cadherin expression, it is a significant indicator of the possible aggressive behavior in terms of stromal or muscle invasion and progression to a higher grade in future.