E-cadherin and β-catenin expression during urothelial carcinogenesis induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine in mice.
Urol Int 2013;
91:462-6. [PMID:
23548313 DOI:
10.1159/000348329]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
E-cadherin and β-catenin are adhesion molecules that promote integrity and stability of the urothelium. A decrease in their expression is associated with more aggressive tumour phenotypes with the ability to invade and metastasize.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
45 ICR male mice were used, of which 25 received N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (0.05%) in drinking water for a period of 12 weeks. Immunohistochemical expression was evaluated in all urinary bladder preparations for E-cadherin and for β-catenin.
RESULTS
Preneoplastic lesions showed staining patterns similar to normal urothelium. In simple and nodular hyperplasia, membrane staining was dominant (66.7-78.6 and 50-100%, respectively). In dysplasia a cytoplasmic pattern was prevalent (86.7-100%). Neoplastic lesions exhibit an abnormal staining pattern (100%) with heterogeneous staining (cytoplasmic, nuclear and membrane staining). A strong correlation was observed between both adhesion molecule staining patterns (r = 0.83; p = 0.039).
CONCLUSIONS
In mice, as in humans, E-cadherin and β-catenin are valuable tools to investigate cellular adhesion status of urothelium and can be considered as indicators of tumour aggressiveness and evolution.
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