Abnormal expression of p120 correlates with poor survival in patients withbladder cancer

p120 is a cytoplasmic molecule closely associated with the Ca2+-dependent c ell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin, by forming complexes between the cyt oplasmic domain of E-cadherin and the cytoskeleton. Although it has been sh own that loss or downregulation of E-cadherin is associated with an invasiv e and poorly differentiated phenotype in several tumours, there is very lit tle information available concerning p120 expression in malignant disease. We used an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique to examine the immunore activity and cellular localisation of p120 and E-cadherin in 68 transitiona l cell. carcinomas (TCC) and 14 normal bladder biopsies and correlated thes e results with pathological and clinical parameters. E-cadherin and p120 we re expressed in a normal membranous pattern in all normal bladder epitheliu m specimens. Loss of normal surface E-cadherin and p120 expression was foun d in 52/68 (76%) and 57/68 (84%) tumours, respectively. There was a signifi cant correlation between the loss of normal membranous expression of p120 a nd increased grade (P< 0.001) and T stage (P < 0.001). The abnormal express ion of p120 was correlated with poor survival (P< 0.05). Our data indicate that the E-cadherin-p120 complex may be a useful prognostic marker in bladd er cancer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.