Co-expression of N-cadherin and α-fetoprotein in stomach cancer

• Published in: Pathology international Vol. 51; no. 8; pp. 612 - 618
• Main Authors: Yanagimoto, Kunio, Sato, Yuichi, Shimoyama, Yutaka, Tsuchiya, Benio, Kuwao, Sadahito, Kameya, Toru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01.08.2001
• Subjects: alpha-Fetoproteins - immunology; Animals; Cadherins - immunology; E-cadherin; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; Japan; Liver Neoplasms - secondary; Mice; Mice, Knockout - immunology; N-cadherin; Rats; stomach cancer; Stomach Neoplasms - immunology; Stomach Neoplasms - pathology; Yolk Sac - immunology; Yolk Sac - pathology; α-fetoprotein; Japan
• ISSN: 1320-5463; 1440-1827
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1827.2001.01248.x

Although N‐cadherin is necessary for organ formation originating in the endoderm, the expression of N‐cadherin in gastric carcinoma and its role has not yet been reported. The present study was conducted to determine the pattern of immunohistochemical expression of E‐cadherin and N‐cadherin, using formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissues from 97 primary gastric carcinomas, including 17 which were producing α‐fetoprotein (AFP). Samples were subdivided into 50 tubular adenocarcinomas and 47 poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas. Results showed that E‐cadherin was expressed in varying degrees in areas of cell adhesion between tumor cells, in 94 out of 97 cases studied. Three cases which showed no expression of E‐cadherin were diagnosed as AFP‐producing tumors by immunohistochemistry. Expression of N‐cadherin was observed in varying degrees in the intercellular spaces between tumor cells in 11 tubular adenocarcinomas and in six poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, including E‐cadherin‐negative cases, all of which were AFP positive. The present findings suggest a possible role for N‐cadherin in gastric carcinoma.