Prognostic value of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, P120(ctn) in patients with transitional cell bladder cancer

Background: Loss of E-cadherin-catenin mediated adhesion is known to play a major role in tumour progression in many human carcinomas. Materials and M ethods: By means of immunohistochemistry, we have investigated the expressi on of E-cadherin, beta -catenin and p120(ctn) in 102 transitional cell blad der carcinomas (TCCs) and statistically analysed these expressions with kno wn clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. Results: Abnormal e xpression of E-cadherin, beta -catenin and p120(ctn) was associated with hi gh grade and high stage of TCCs (p<0.001). Abnormal <beta>-catenin expressi on demonstrated a statistically significant correlation with poor patient s urvival (p=0.03) while abnormal E-cadherin expression was associated with p oor survival in patients with muscle invasive TCCs (p=0.025). However, in m ultivariate statistical analysis a suggestive association with pool surviva l was observed only for E-cadherin (p=0.06). Simultaneous abnormal expressi on of all the molecules demonstrated an association of suggestive significa nce with poor patient survival (p=0.07). Conclusion: E-cadherin expression may be a useful prognostic market in patients with invasive TCCs.