[Expression patterns of E-cadherin and beta-catenin according to clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Expression Patterns of E-cadherin and -catenin According to Clinicopathological Characteristics of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Si Hyun Bae, M.D. 1,4 , Eun Sun Jung, M.D. 2 , Young Min Park, M.D. 1,4 , Jeong Won Jang, M.D. 1,4 , Jong Young Choi, M.D. 1,4 , Se Hyun Cho, M.D. 1,4 , Seung Kew Yoon, M.D. 1,4 , Byung Min Ahn, M.D. 1,4 , Sang Bok Cha, M.D. 1,4 , Kyu Won Chung, M.D. 1,4 , Hee Sik Sun, M.D. 1,4 , Doo Ho Park, M.D. 1,4 , Byung Kee Kim, M.D. 2 , Dong Goo Kim, M.D. 3 Department of Internal Medicine 1 , Pathology 2 and General Surgery 3 , College of Medicine, and WHO Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Viral Hepatitis 4 , The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea Background/Aims: E-cadherin is involved in intercellular binding and cellular polarity formation. β-catenin plays a fundamental role in regulation of the E-cadherin cell adhesion complex. The abnormalities of the components of the complex may disrupt this adhesive function. We investigated the expression patterns of E-cadherin and β-catenin to determine the clinical significance of these proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials/Methods: Thirty-six hepaticellular carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-tumor specimens were analyzed. Subcellular distribution of E-cadherin and β-catenin was examined by immunohistochemistry staining. We evaluated the patterns of the expression, and investigated the relationship with the cause of HCC; level of AFP; TNM stage; tumor size; growth types; metastasis; differentiation grade of HCC; and presence of portal vein thrombosis. Results: Immunohistochemistry showed that all non-tumor tissues had membranous type staining of E-cadherin. All non-tumor tissues showed cytoplasmic type staining of β-catenin, but no β -catenin accumulation in nuclei was found. 58% (21/36) of HCC showed positive expression of E-cadherin in cytoplasmic membrane. The cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin in HCC was 83% (30/36); nuclear expression in 14% (5/36); and no staining in 3% (1/36). Nuclear β-catenin expression was observed in none (0/4) of the well-differentiated HCC; 17%(3/9) of moderate-differentiated HCC; and 17%(2/6) of poorly-differentiated HCC. There were no relationships between E-cadherin and β-catenin expression with other clinicopathologic factors. Conclusions: Loss of cytoplasmic staining of E-cadherin and nuclear accumulation of β-catenin were observed in HCC. Nuclear accumulation of β-catenin was not found in well differentiated HCC but was found in poorly differentiated HCC. (Korean J Hepatol 2002;8:297-303)