E-cadherin and α-catenin Expressions in Bladder Transitional Cell Carcinoma and its Significance

To investigate the relation and clinical significance between E cadherin(E cad),α catenin(α cat)expression and the biological behavior of bladder transitional cell carcinoma.Immunohistochemistry staining(streptavidin peroxidase method)was used to detect E cad and α cat expression in 96 cases of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and 10 cases of normal bladder tissues.E cadherin(E cad)and α catenin(α cat)was uniformly positive in all the 10 normal bladder tissues.The abnormal expression rate of E cad and α cat was 44.8% (43/96) and 58.3% (56/96)respectively in 96 cases of bladder cancer.There was a positive relationship between the expression of E cad and α cat.The abnormal expression rate of E cad and α cat showed a significant correlation with the pathologic grade,clinical stage,high recurrence and poor survival.[Conclusion]E cad and α cat expressions play an important role in the malignant progression of bladder transitional cell carcinoma and may be used as a useful molecular marker for tumor progression,recurrence and prognosis.