Expression and significance of E-cadherin in primary and metastatic sites of advanced ovarian cancer

Objective: To analyze the mechanism and clinical significance of E-cadherin in invasion and metastasis of advanced ovarian cancer. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine the expression of E-cadherin and tissue microarray slices obtained from ovarian cancer including benign,primary and metastatic sites of patients with ovarian cancer. Results: The positivity rates for E-cadherin in primary sites,metastatic sites,benign ovarian tumor were 46. 6%,20%,82. 1%. The expression rates of E-cadherin were significantly lower in metastatic tumor,the primary tumors than in that in benign ovarian tumor( P 0. 001). The expressions of E-cadherin was significantly lower in the metastatic tumor than that in the primary tumors,the expression score difference between primary tumor and metastasis showed significance( P 0. 05). Conclusion: The abnormal low expression of E-cadherin may be associated with metastasis of ovarian cancer and might be potential targets for controlling the invasion and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma.