E-cadherin expression is homogeneously reduced in adenoma from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis: an immunohistochemical study of E-cadherin, β-catenin and cyclooxygenase-2 expression

Background and aims The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) protein plays a crucial role in the regulation of β-catenin, which is linked to the cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Furthermore, β-catenin and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are both involved in the activation of nuclear transcription factors inducing cell proliferation. Germline mutations in the APC gene are the cause of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). To characterise the expression pattern of these proteins in FAP in comparison with sporadic adenomas, we studied 18 FAP-associated adenomas, 16 sporadic adenomas and seven normal colonic controls.