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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jcp.2007.052704v1 61/7/856    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Paredes, J Articles by Schmitt, F C PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Paredes, J Articles by Schmitt, F C

Breast carcinomas that co-express E- and P-cadherin are associated with p120-catenin cytoplasmic localisation and poor patient survival

¹ Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
² Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
³ Hospital Xeral-Cíes, Vigo, Spain
⁴ Medical Faculty, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

Correspondence to:
Dr J Paredes, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Roberto Frias S/N, 4200, Porto, Portugal; jparedes{at}ipatimup.pt

Background: Changes in junctional catenin expression may compromise cadherin-mediated adhesion, increasing cell malignant properties such as invasive and metastatic abilities. Altered expression of -, β-, - and p120-catenin has been reported to be associated with E-cadherin loss or decreased expression, in both breast carcinomas and breast cancer cell lines.

Aims and Methods: To investigate the expression and subcellular localisation of p120- and β-catenin in a series of human invasive breast carcinomas, and correlate it with biological markers and clinicopathological parameters.

Results: Both catenins frequently exhibited a reduced membranous or cytoplasmic staining pattern. These alterations were significantly correlated with lack of both E-cadherin and oestrogen receptor- expression. It was possible to associate the expression of β-catenin with histological grade, tumour size and nodal status, suggesting a relevant role for this catenin as a prognostic factor. The majority of E- and P-cadherin co-expressing tumours were related to cytoplasmic expression of p120-catenin; in this group of breast carcinomas, patient survival was poor.

Conclusion: Results indicate that p120-catenin cytoplasmic accumulation may play an important role in mediating the oncogenic effects derived from P-cadherin aberrant expression, including enhanced motility and invasion, particularly in tumours which maintain E-cadherin expression.