This study used immunohistochemical methods for detecting the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in pituitary adenoma. Specimens were collected from 91 cases. EnVision was used for immunohistochemical staining. The results were graded depending on the staining intensity and range. Associations between E-cadherin and β-catenin expression and tumor subtype, invasiveness, and postoperative recurrence were investigated. There was a significant downregulation of E-cadherin and β-catenin in growth hormone (GH)-type tumors when compared with prolactin-type tumors (uc = 2.693 and 2.109, respectively; P < .05). E-cadherin and β-catenin were downregulated in invasive pituitary adenomas (uc = 3.563 and 4.166, respectively; P < .05) and in clinically recurring pituitary adenomas (uc = 2.871 and 3.866, respectively; P < .05). There was no difference in the percentage of invasive prolactin and GH secreting tumors (28.57% and 22.86%, respectively; P > .05). The expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in pituitary adenoma was significantly downregulated and related to subtype, invasiveness, and postoperative recurrence.
AghakhaniKKadivarMKazemi-EsfehSZamaniNMoradiMSanaei-ZadehH. Prevalence of pituitary incidentaloma in the Iranian cadavers. Indian J Pathol Microbiol. 2011;54:692-694.
DudziakKHoneggerJBornemannAHorgerMMussigK. Pituitary carcinoma with malignant growth from first presentation and fulminant clinical course: case report and review of the literature. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011;96:2665-2669.
4.
Tena-SuckMLOrtiz-PlataAGalanFSanchezA. Expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule and pituitary tumor transforming gene in adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma and its correlation with recurrence of the tumor. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2009;13:82-88.
5.
ParedesJFigueiredoJAlbergariaA. Epithelial E- and P-cadherins: role and clinical significance in cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012;1826:297-311.
6.
GallandFChansonP. Classification and pathophysiology of pituitary adenomas. Bull Acad Natl Med. 2009;193:1543-1556; discussion 1556.
7.
CunliffeCHFischerIParagYFowkesME. State-of-the-art pathology: new WHO classification, implications, and new developments. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2010;20:259-271.
8.
MeyerSValdemarssonSLarssonEM. Classification of pituitary growth hormone producing adenomas according to SIPAP: application in clinical practice. Acta Radiol. 2011;52:796-801.
9.
ElstonMSGillAJConaglenJV. Nuclear accumulation of e-cadherin correlates with loss of cytoplasmic membrane staining and invasion in pituitary adenomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009;94:1436-1442.
10.
MetindirJDilekGBPakI. Staining characterization by immunohistochemistry of tumor cancer antigen in patients with endometrial cancer. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol. 2008;29:489-492.
11.
van RoyFBerxG. The cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2008;65:3756-3788.
12.
BrigidiGSBamjiSX. Cadherin-catenin adhesion complexes at the synapse. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2011;21:208-214.
13.
BudaAPignatelliM. E-cadherin and the cytoskeletal network in colorectal cancer development and metastasis. Cell Commun Adhes. 2011;18:133-143.
14.
Van den BosscheJMalissenBMantovaniADe BaetselierPVan GinderachterJA. Regulation and function of the E-cadherin/catenin complex in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage and DCs. Blood. 2012;119:1623-1633.
15.
KimNGKohEChenXGumbinerBM. E-cadherin mediates contact inhibition of proliferation through Hippo signaling-pathway components. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108:11930-11935.
16.
BaumBGeorgiouM. Dynamics of adherens junctions in epithelial establishment, maintenance, and remodeling. J Cell Biol. 2011;192:907-917.
17.
ArikkathJReichardtLF. Cadherins and catenins at synapses: roles in synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Trends Neurosci. 2008;31:487-494.
18.
ZidarNGaleNKojcN. Cadherin-catenin complex and transcription factor Snail-1 in spindle cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Virchows Arch. 2008;453:267-274.
19.
JangKJSonISShinDYYoonHMChoiYH. Anti-invasive activity of ethanol extracts of Ganoderma lucidum through tightening of tight junctions and inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase activities in human gastric carcinoma cells. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2011;4:225-235.
ObariASanoTOhyamaK. Clinicopathological features of growth hormone-producing pituitary adenomas: difference among various types defined by cytokeratin distribution pattern including a transitional form. Endocr Pathol. 2008;19:82-91.
22.
SanoTRongQZKagawaNYamadaS. Down-regulation of E-cadherin and catenins in human pituitary growth hormone-producing adenomas. Front Horm Res. 2004;32:127-132.
23.
YonedaASanoTYamadaS. Pituitary adenomas that show a faint GH-immunoreactivity but lack fibrous body: Pit-1 adenoma with endocrinologically low activity. Endocr Pathol. 2010;21:40-47.
24.
GuoWDongZGuoYKuangGYangZChenZ. Detection of promoter hypermethylation of the CpG island of E-cadherin in gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma. Eur J Med Res. 2009;14:453-458.
25.
MazalPRCzechTSedivyR. Prognostic relevance of intracytoplasmic cytokeratin pattern, hormone expression profile, and cell proliferation in pituitary adenomas of akromegalic patients. Clin Neuropathol. 2001;20:163-171.
26.
CoonsSWEstradaSIGamezRWhiteWL. Cytokeratin CK 7 and CK 20 expression in pituitary adenomas. Endocr Pathol. 2005;16:201-210.
27.
QianZRSanoTYoshimotoK. Tumor-specific downregulation and methylation of the CDH13 (H-cadherin) and CDH1 (E-cadherin) genes correlate with aggressiveness of human pituitary adenomas. Mod Pathol. 2007;20:1269-1277.
28.
PanHGaoFPapageorgisPAbdolmalekyHMFallerDVThiagalingamS. Aberrant activation of gamma-catenin promotes genomic instability and oncogenic effects during tumor progression. Cancer Biol Ther. 2007;6:1638-1643.
29.
GürlekAKaravitakiNAnsorgeOWassJA. What are the markers of aggressiveness in prolactinomas? Changes in cell biology, extracellular matrix components, angiogenesis and genetics. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007;156:143-153.
30.
ZhouKWangGWangYJinHYangSLiuC. The potential involvement of E-cadherin and beta-catenins in meningioma. PLoS One. 2010;5:e11231.
