Alteration of CD44 and cadherins expression: possible association with augmented aggressiveness and invasiveness of endometrial carcinoma

Cadherins and CD44 isoforms are transmembrane glycoproteins with diverse fu nctions in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and may be a determinant of invasive and metastatic behavior in carcinomas. The immunohistochemical expression of cadherins and CD44 in tissue samples from 15 normal endometri um and 33 endometrial adenocarcinomas were examined. The immunohistochemica l analysis was performed using the monoclonal antibody HECD-1 against E-cad herin and the polyclonal antibody against N-cadherin. In addition, the mono clonal antibodies 2C5, which binds to CD44s and all of the variants encoded by exons 3-10; 3G5, which is specific for CD44v3; and 2F10, which is speci fic for CD44v6 were used. E-cadherin (P=0.0001) and N-cadherin (P<0.001) ex pressions were statistically lower in endometrial adenocarcinoma than in no rmal endometrium. In contrast, an overexpression of CD44 isoforms (P<0.01) and CD34v3 (P<0.01) expressions was found in endometrial adenocarcinomas co mpared with normal endometrium. No difference was noted for CD44v6. An asso ciation was found between a decrease in E-cadherin expression and the occur rence of local recurrent and nodal metastasis. An association was found bet ween CD44 overexpression, lymph space involvement, and myometrial invasion. Our results suggest that cadherin and CD44 expressions in endometrial carc inomas may have a prognostic value. Alteration of CD44 seems to be related to local invasion, while alteration of E-cadherin seems to be associated wi th dissemination of the disease.