Expression of E-cadherin and γ-catenin in relation to invasion and metastasis in human hepatocellular carcinomas

Objective Objective To study the correlation of E-cadherin and γ-catenin expression with invasion and metastasis in human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC).Methods S-P immunohistochemical method was used to detect the E-cadherin and γ-catenin expression in 34 cases of HCC and 20 adjacent normal hepatic tissues by E-cadherin monoclonal antibody and γ-catenin polyclonal antibody.The results were densitometrically semiquantitated.Results All normal hepatic tissues expressed E-cadherin and γ-catenin normally,but the E-cadherin and γ-catenin expression were reduced or negative in HCC.The expression of E-cadherin and γ-catenin in HCC was associated with invasion and metastasis of HCC.Conclusion The expression of E-cadherin and γ-catenin are closely associated with invasion and metastasis of HCC,which suggests E-cadherin and γ-catenin may be new carcinomal markers.We can evaluate the invasion and metastasis of HCC by detecting the expression of E-cadherin and γ-catenin in HCC.