Combined loss of E-cadherin and aberrant β-catenin protein expression correlates with a poor prognosis for small intestinal adenocarcinomas

Am J Clin Pathol. 2013 Feb;139(2):167-76. doi: 10.1309/AJCPS54RTFCTHGWX.

Abstract

Small intestinal adenocarcinomas (SIACs) are rare, and their molecular pathogenesis is largely unknown. To define the roles of E-cadherin and β-catenin, we performed immunohistochemistry for E-cadherin and β-catenin in 194 surgically resected SIACs with tissue microarrays and compared the data with clinicopathologic factors, including survival rates of patients with SIAC. Loss of E-cadherin expression and aberrant β-catenin expression were observed in 41.8% (81/194 cases) and 40.7% (79/194 cases) of SIACs, respectively. Combined loss of E-cadherin and aberrant β-catenin expression was observed in 24.2% (47/194 cases) of SIACs, and this feature was most frequently observed in mucinous adenocarcinomas and signet ring cell carcinomas (P < .001), poorly differentiated and undifferentiated carcinomas (P < .001), and tumors with advanced pT classification (P = .03). Survival times for patients with SIAC with both loss of E-cadherin and aberrant β-catenin expression (median, 13.9 months) were significantly shorter than those for patients without aberrant expression of both proteins (49.9 months), as determined by univariate (P < .001) and multivariate (P = .01) analyses. In conclusion, loss of E-cadherin and aberrant β-catenin expression correlate with poorly differentiated tumors, advanced T classification, and decreased patient survival time; therefore, it could be a prognostic factor in patients with SIAC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Intestine, Small / metabolism
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Intestine, Small / surgery
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Survival Rate
  • Tissue Array Analysis
  • Young Adult
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cadherins
  • beta Catenin