EXPRESSION AND POTENTIAL ROLE OF E-CADHERIN IN PANCREATIC-CARCINOMA

Conclusion. Our results indicate that loss of E-cadherin might be asso ciated with a more invasive phenotype in pancreatic cancer, Background . A reduced expression of the calcium-dependent E-cadherin cell-cell a dhesion molecule on tumor cells has been described as an important fac tor for tumor invasion and metastasis. Methods. Pancreatic tissues (ca rcinoma, chronic pancreatitis, and normal) as well as 12 pancreatic tu mor cell lines were investigated for E-cadherin expression by immunohi stochemistry. To correlate the motility of pancreatic tumor cells in v itro with E-cadherin expression, we used a Boyden chamber assay. Resul ts. In pancreatic carcinoma tissues, diffuse growing tumor cells showe d a decrease or loss of E-cadherin expression, whereas in areas of com pact tumor growth, only a slight decrease of E-cadherin expression was observed compared to normal pancreas or chronic pancreatitis. No corr elation between the E-cadherin expression and the grading of the tumor cells, the tumor stage, or the disease progression was detectable. Of four tumor cell lines that migrated in the Boyden chamber, three were predominantly E-cadherin negative. In contrast, seven of eight cell l ines that did not migrate in vitro revealed E-cadherin expression.