Y. Shibuya et al., Ultrastructural localization of E-cadherin and alpha-/beta-catenin in adenoid cystic carcinoma, HISTOPATHOL, 35(5), 1999, pp. 423-431
Citations number
55
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Aims: To investigate the disturbance of intercellular adhesion in adenoid c
ystic carcinoma (ACC), we examined the ultrastructural localization of E-ca
dherin (E-cad), alpha-catenin (alpha-cat) and beta-catenin (beta-cat) in AC
C, and compared it with that in the normal labial gland.
Methods and results: Using immune-electron microscopy, in the normal labial
gland, E-cad was found to be uniformly distributed along the plasmalemma,
where cells were in close contact with each other, with junctional complexe
s, desmosomes and interdigitations; expression of alpha-cat and beta-cat wa
s also detected. In ACC, which was classified into tubular, cribriform and
trabecular types, E-cad expression seemed not to be uniform, but was observ
ed to be along the plasmalemma where cell-to-cell contact was made. On the
other hand, expression of alpha-cat or beta-cat was uneven in the trabecula
r-type cells which were very slender and grew in an infiltrative scattered
pattern into the extracellular matrix; that was absent in the cribriform-ty
pe cells which made contact with each other mostly at the tip of the cytopl
asmic processes.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the neoplastic cells of ACC express
E-cad for use in intercellular adhesion, but the cadherin-catenin complex
might not operate properly, which is the cause of neoplastic cell dissociat
ion, followed by invasion and metastasis.