E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium.

The aim of this study was to determine whether modulation of expression of cell adhesion molecules may occur in neoplastic transformation of endometrial epithelium. Materials and Methods: E-Cadherin and alpha-catenin protein expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 124 biopsies representative of normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium. Results: In normal endometrium (proliferative, secretive and atrophic endometrium) strong homogeneous, E-cadherin and alpha-catenin reactivity was found; 58.3% and 66.6% of biopsies representative of simple hyperplastic endometrium were homogeneously positive for E-cadherin and alpha-catenin, respectively, whereas no samples representative of atypical hyperplasia showed evidence of homogeneous E-cadherin or alpha-catenin expression. No expression of homogeneous E-cadherin was seen in endometrial adenocarcinomas; alpha-catenin homogeneous immunostaining was observed in 2 G1 and 2 G2 out of 22 adenocarcinoma samples (18.2%). A homogeneous co-expression of both molecules was seen only in normal (70%) and simple hyperplastic (46%) endometrium. Conclusion: These results suggest that E-cadherin and alpha-catenin down-regulation might be associated with neoplastic transformation of endometrial tissues.