EXPRESSION OF E-CADHERIN IN PRIMARY PROSTATE-CANCER - CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL-FEATURES

Objective To correlate the immunohistochemically detected loss of E-ca dherin expression with patient age, clinical and biological variables, and to investigate the prognostic value of these variables for the re lapse-free and overall survival of patients with different stages of n ewly diagnosed prostate cancer. Patients and methods Sixty-seven patie nts (median age 63 years, range 48-78) undergoing radical prostatectom y for the treatment of primary prostate cancer were assessed to determ ine whether age, tumour stage, histological grading, serum levels of p rostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase, regional lymp h node status and E-cadherin expression were prognostic factors for re lapse-free and overall survival. Results With a median (range) follow- up of 54 (3-193) months, there was no independent prognostic value of decreased E-cadherin expression for the long-term or recurrence-free s urvival of patients, using a threshold value of 40% for the relative a mount of positively stained tumour cells, or for any other threshold v alue calculated (25%, 60% or 75%), However, comparing a follow-up of 1 6 months in patients with <40% positivity and 46 months in patients wi th greater than or equal to 40% positivity, those patients retaining E -cadherin expression had a significantly longer recurrence-free interv al after radical prostatectomy (P < 0.01). Conclusion The value of E-c adherin expression as an additional independent prognostic variable fo r patients with primary prostate cancer is questionable.