Expression of E-cadherin in prostate cancer in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues: correlation with pathological features.

Aims: E-cadherin has been studied recently as a potential marker for tumour progression. The present study aimed to assess the expression of E-cadherin in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded radical prostatectomy specimens and to compare its expression with the pathological stage and Gleason score.

Methods: This study comprised a total of 58 men who were selected on the basis of the negative surgical margins of surgical specimens from radical retropubic prostatectomies and concomitant pelvic lymph node dissections. Indirect immunoperoxidase staining was performed as described previously using HECD-1 monoclonal antibody with the retrieval of antigen by treatment of the paraffin-embedded tissue with microwaves in citrate buffer.

Results: Aberrant staining patterns of E-cadherin were observed in 18 (64%) and in 25 (83%) of cases with pathological stages pT2 and pT3a, respectively (P>0.05). Immunohistochemical examination also revealed aberrant staining patterns of E-cadherin in 16 (89%) of specimens with Gleason score > or =7 and in 27 (68%) of specimens with Gleason score <7 (P>0.05). Biochemical recurrence was identified in three (5%) patients and immunohistochemical examination of their specimens revealed aberrant staining patterns of E-cadherin molecule in all of them.

Conclusion: Our preliminary results indicate that, even though we could not demonstrate any significant correlation between E-cadherin staining pattern and tumour invasion and Gleason scores, aberrant staining patterns of E-cadherin may be a significant predictor for disease recurrence following radical prostatectomies if supported by large scale studies.