[Abnormal expression of E-cadherin in human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines].

Nineteen human pancreatic cancer cell lines were analyzed for possible abnormal mRNA and/or protein expression of the E-cadherin. Five lines showed no or markedly reduced expression of the E-cadherin, and protein was absent. In 9 lines, mRNA was positive but protein distribution was abnormal, i.e. diffusely positive in cytoplasm instead of membrane, or mixed distribution to membrane and cytoplasm. These 14 cell lines with abnormal E-cadherin expression grow in isolated fashion or loose sheet formation, indicating the loss of cell-cell adhesion system. These findings that the strong relation between E-cadherin abnormalities and loss of physical cell-cell interaction may explain the extensively poor prognosis of the patients with pancreatic carcinoma.