Immunoexpression of beta-catenin--E-cadherin complex in primary serous ovarian tumors

Ovarian cancer takes a fourth place as cause of death from all cancers and a first place from gynecologic malignancies in Poland. Up to now, relatively little is known about immunohistochemical markers accepted as prognostic indicators for ovarian cancers. Recent investigations took a note of prognostic significance of catenin-cadherin adhesion complex and Ki-67 proliferation protein in serous ovarian cancers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of beta-catenin and E-cadherin in metastatic and nonmetastatic serous ovarian tumors, as well as to find possible relationships between this immunoexpression and tumor proliferation activity. The analysis comprised of 66 women diagnosed and treated for epithelial ovarian tumors. On immunohistochemical examinations it was found a significantly lower immunoexpression of beta-catenin and E-cadherin in invasive serous ovarian cancers than in cystadenomas. Additionally, in metastatic group the immunoexpression of both beta-catenin and E-cadherin was significantly decreased as compared with patients without metastases. Moreover, the significant inverse correlations have been shown between immunoexpression of Ki-67 and beta-catenin as well as Ki-67 and E-cadherin. In conclusion, our data suggest that decreased immunoexpression of beta-catenin and E-cadherin in serous ovarian tumors may be helpful in identifying the cases of higher metastatic potential and infiltration ability.