Cadherin expression in ovarian carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma cell effusions.

Objective: To analyze potential differences in cadherin expression between ovarian carcinoma/primary peritoneal carcinoma (OC/PPC) and malignant mesothelioma (MM) at this anatomic site.

Study Design: MM (N=24) and OC/PPC (N= 53) effusions were analyzed for E-cadherin, N-cadherin and P-cadherin protein expression using immunocytochemistry.

Results: Both MM and OC/PPC cells showed frequent expression of all 3 cadherins.

Expression of Snail, Slug and Sip1 in malignant mesothelioma effusions is associated with matrix metalloproteinase, but not with cadherin expression.

Snail, Slug and Sip1 regulate cadherin and protease expression and mediate epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer. We analyzed the expression of cadherins and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and their transcriptional regulators in malignant mesothelioma (MM). One hundred and ten MM specimens (86 solid, 24 effusions) and 10 non-malignant effusions with reactive mesothelial cells (RMC) were analyzed for E-cadherin, N-cadherin and P-cadherin protein expression using immunhistochemistry.