Differential Immunohistochemical Expression of CD44s, E-Cadherin and β-Catenin among Hyperplastic and Neoplastic Lesions of the Prostate Gland

Introduction: CD44s, E-cadherin and β-catenin are cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and appear to influence organ development, inflammation, cancer invasion and metastasis. We studied the expression of these CAMs in prostate cancer (PCa), high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and nodular adenomatous hyperplasia (NH). Materials and Methods: 135 paraffin blocks of radical prostatectomy specimens were assessed. CAMs were determined by immunohistochemistry. All sections included PCa, HGPIN and NH. The expression was semiquantitatively evaluated in three scores (1+, 2+, 3+). The markers’ immunopositivity was statistically investigated with Gleason score and TNM stage. Results and Conclusions: CD44s had score 3+ in 41.5, 46.7 and 37.8% of areas with NH, HGPIN and PCa, respectively. E-cadherin immunostaining was highly detected in 71.1, 78.5 and 63.0% of NH, HGPIN and PCa areas while β-catenin score 3+ was exclusively membranous in 80.7% of NH and nuclear/cytoplasmic in 70.4 and 48.9% of HGPIN and PCa areas. No marker related to the Gleason score (p = 0.352). CD44s and E-cadherin expression was inversely associated with TNM stage (p = 0.021 and p = 0.042, respectively); no such association was observed for β-catenin (p = 0.556). The decreased expression of CD44s and E-cadherin is probably associated with the invasive potential of PCa. The β-catenin staining pattern in neoplastic lesions, either preinvasive or invasive, differs from that in non-neoplastic prostate lesions.