Decreased Expression of a-Catenin is Associated With Poor Prognosis of Patients With Local-

During the progression of many cancers, cell-cell adhesion molecules, e.g., E-cadherin (EC), may be down-regulated. In a number of carcinomas, EC has been described as an independent prognostic variable. We have studied the expression of adhesion molecules participating in cadherin-catenin complexes in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) specimens. Expression of EC catenins and pl20cas protein was examined in frozen tissue of 90 RCC specimens by immunohistochemistry, and these molecules were evaluated for their significance as prognostic markers. Staining was scored as normal (homogeneously positive at cell-cell borders) or abnormal (heterogeneous or absent). A significant correlation between poor survival and decreased expression of a-, p- or y-catenin was observed, whereas no association between survival and EC or pl20cas expression was seen. Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis showed that in patients with pTI-3NOMO disease, reduced a-catenin expression correlated with poor survival, suggesting that a-catenin expression might be an independent prognostic indicator for patients of this group. Editorial Comment: Grade and stage are prognostic features for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Nuclear morphometry, proliferation rates and p53 expression are other potential prognostic markers. Cellular adhesion molecules, such as cadherins or catenins, have a role in the evohtion of neoplasia. Cadherins are transmembrane glycoproteins that interact and connect with cytoplasmic proteins, such as the catenins. Cadherin mediated cellular adhesiveness is important for the integrity of epithelial cells, and decreased E-cadherin expression may be associated with tumor invasion and a poor prognosis. In this study decreased expression of a, p and y catenin was observed, and there appeared to be a significant correlation between poor survival and decreased expression of a-catenin.