Aberrant E-cadherin expression associated with loss of differentiation andadvanced stage in human pancreatic cancer

E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule involved in armour invasion and metastasis. We evaluated E-cadherin expression immunohistochemically in 43 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of pancreatic cancer and inves tigated its relationship to histopathological features. In noncancerous pan creatic cells E-cadherin immunoreactivity was localized at the cell membran e, particularly at the intercellular junctions. Abnormal E-cadherin express ion was found in 18 (42%) cases. A significantly higher proportion of poorl y-differentiated tumours (71%) showed abnormal E-cadherin expression compar ed with moderately (50%) and well (19%) differentiated tumours (P=0.037). T here was a significant correlation between abnormal E-cadherin expression a nd lymph node involvement (P=0.013), the presence of distant metastases (P= 0.034) and advanced tumour stage (P=0.025). These findings suggest that los s of normal E-cadherin expression is involved in the progression of pancrea tic cancer.