Differential expression of E-cadherin, β-catenin, and Lewis x between invasive hydatidiform moles and post-molar choriocarcinomas.

Trophoblast cell adhesion and migration are carefully coordinated during normal placental development. We have compared the expression of three adhesion molecules, E-cadherin, β-catenin, and Lewis x, by immunohistochemistry during normal trophoblast differentiation, and in hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinomas. Both E-cadherin and β-catenin were expressed in normal placenta cytotrophoblast, and this expression decreased with trophoblast maturation.

NLRP7 and the genetics of post-molar choriocarcinomas in Senegal.

Gestational choriocarcinomas are malignant tumors of trophoblastic cells that affect 5-25% of women with sporadic hydatidiform moles (HMs) depending on countries and studies. Nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 7 (NLRP7) is a major gene responsible for recurrent HMs and recently mutations in this gene have also been shown in 13% of women with sporadic, non-recurrent  moles. To investigate the role of NLRP7 in the genetic susceptibility for the malignant degeneration of moles, we sequenced its 11 exons in 43 Senegalese patients with post-molar choriocarcinomas.