Significance of immunocytochemical expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and CD44 in serous effusions using liquid-based cytology.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic utility of E-cadherin (E-cad), N-cadherin (N-cad) and CD44 to discriminate adenocarcinoma cells from benign and malignant mesothelial cells in body cavity fluids and to clarify the origin of cancer cells.

Study Design: A total of 120 ThinPrep (Cytyc Corp., Boxborough, Massachusetts, U.