Immunohistochemical Expression of E- and N-Cadherin in Nodular Prostatic Hyperplasia and Prostatic Carcinoma
Rania Abdallah Abdallah1, Asmaa Gaber Abdou1, Moshira Abdelwahed1
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebein El Kom, Egypt.
Background:
Different theories have been postulated to explain the development of nodular prostatic hyperplasia (NPH). Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a physiologic process in which the epithelial cells lose their polarity and cell-cell adhesion and acquire a mesenchymal phenotype.
Aim:
The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential role of E- and N-cadherin in the induction of EMT in NPH and prostatic carcinoma.
Methods:
This study was carried out on 55 cases of NPH and 20 cases prostatic carcinoma for evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of E and N cadherins.
Results:
Most NPH (54/55 cases, 98.2%) and all cases of prostatic carcinoma showed positive N-cadherin expression in prostatic glands and stroma. High percentage of N-cadherin expression by stromal cells was significantly in favor of prostatic carcinoma compared to NPH. High percentage of N-cadherin expression by epithelial cells of carcinoma group was significantly associated with young age while its high expression by stromal cells was significantly associated with multicentricity. About 96.4% of NPH and 75% of prostatic carcinoma showed positive E-cadherin expression with a significant difference. No significant association between E-cadherin and N-cadherins in both NPH and prostatic carcinoma was identified.
Conclusions:
The prominent expression of N-cadherin in large numbers of NPH and prostate carcinoma cases in the epithelial and stromal components could point to the occurrence of EMT in those diseases. It also opens a new gate for treatment of those patients by targeting N-cadherin molecule. The absence of inverse association between E-cadherin and N-cadherins in NPH and prostatic carcinoma may indicate that cadherin switch is not an essential step for the development of EMT.
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