Abstract
Purpose: :
Since the E-cadherin-catenin complex may be of importance in the cancerogenesis of epithelial tumors, we examined the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin and in sebaceous adenocarcinomas of the eyelid and correlated the results with clinicopathological parameters.
Methods: :
The study included histological specimen of 32 patients with sebaceous adenocarcinomas of the eyelid. The expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin and Ki-67 nuclear antigen was measured by immunohistochemistry.
Results: :
The membranous expression of E-cadherin and of β-catenin was reduced in 17 (53%) patients and 18 (56%) patients, respectively, while elevated cytoplasmic levels and a nuclear accumulation of β-catenin were found in 27 (84%) and 6 (19%) patients, respectively. The expression of membranous β-catenin was inversely correlated with the degree of tumor infiltration (P=0.02) and inflammation (P=0.01), and directly correlated with the degree of tumor differentiation (P<0.001). Correspondingly, a low membranous E-cadherin expression in tumors was significantly associated with poor tumor differentiation (P=0.001) and high tumor cell proliferation rate (P=0.004). The membranous E-cadherin expression and the membranous β-catenin expression were significantly associated with each other (Fisher exact probability test, P=0.03).
Conclusions: :
A decrease in the E-cadherin and β-catenin expression is associated with poor tumor differentiation and increased inflammation, pointing at a potential role of a low E-cadherin and low β-catenin expression for poor prognosis of sebaceous eyelid adenocarcinomas. The findings suggest that the immunohistochemical detection of a low E-cadherin and low β-catenin expression may help in the examination and staging of sebaceous eyelid adenocarcinomas.
Keywords: pathology: human • tumors