Expression of E-cadherin in primary prostate cancer: correlation with clinical features

To correlate the immunohistochemically detected loss of E-cadherin expression with patient age, clinical and biological variables, and to investigate the prognostic value of these variables for the relapse-free and overall survival of patients with different stages of newly diagnosed prostate cancer.

Sixty-seven patients (median age 63 years, range 48-78) undergoing radical prostatectomy for the treatment of primary prostate cancer were assessed to determine whether age, tumour stage, histological grading, serum levels of prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase, regional lymph node status and E-cadherin expression were prognostic factors for relapse-free and overall survival.

With a median (range) follow-up of 54 (3-193) months, there was no independent prognostic value of decreased E-cadherin expression for the long-term or recurrence-free survival of patients, using a threshold value of 40% for the relative amount of positively stained tumour cells, or for any other threshold value calculated (25%, 60% or 75%). However, comparing a follow-up of 16 months in patients with < 40% positivity and 46 months in patients with > or = 34% positivity, those patients retaining E-cadherin expression had a significantly longer recurrence-free interval after radical prostatectomy (P < 0.01).

The value of E-cadherin expression as an additional independent prognostic variable for patients with primary prostate cancer is questionable.