THE E-CADHERIN CELL-CELL ADHESION PATHWAY IN UROLOGIC MALIGNANCIES

Alterations in the E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion pathway are commonly observed in urologic malignancies. This issue has been addres sed most thoroughly in prostate cancer. Whereas both cadherin and cate nin dysfunction have been seen in human prostate cancers, only down-re gulation of E-cadherin has been shown for bladder cancer and renal-cel l carcinoma. Although studies in bladder cancer and renal-cell carcino ma are less mature than studies in prostate cancer, they support the h ypothesis that immunostaining for E-cadherin may be of significance fo r both diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Finally, the E-cadherin-med iated cell-cell adhesion pathway may represent a novel chemotherapeuti c target for bladder cancer, prostate cancer, and renal-cell carcinoma . Obviously, more work lies ahead to translate these important observa tions from the bench to the bedside.