Expressions of E-cadherin, and α-,β-catenin in Breast Cancers and Their Lymph-node Metastatic Tumors

Objective To investigate the protein expressions of E-cadherin and α-,β-catenin in breast cancers and their lymph-node metastatic tumors to evaluate their possible role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. Methods High sensitive S-P immunohistochemical method was used to detect the protein expressions of E-cadherin and α-,β-catenin in 60 breast cancers(31cases with lymphatic metastasis) and their lymph-node metastatic tumors. Results The abnormal expression rates of the E-cadherin and α-,β-catenin were 51 7%, 61 7%, 70% respectively in the 60 cases of breast cancers. The expression of E-cadherin was significantly associated with lymphatic metastasis(P0 05). However, there was no significant relationship between α-,β-catenin expression and lymph node metastasis. Expression of E-cadherin in metastatic lesion was significantly higher than that in primary tumor, while there was no significant difference in α-,β-catenin expressions between the primary tumor and metastatic lesion. Conclusions Down-regulation of E-cadherin may promote the tumor cells to release from the primary site, and re-expression of E-cadherin may be important for tumour cells to adhere in remote organs and to form metastatic tumors.