E-cadherin and catenins in early squamous cervical carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prognostic significance of the protein expression of E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin in early squamous cervical carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: We studied 219 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy at our institution for stage IB SCC between 1987 and 1993. Immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin was used to examine protein expression. Ten patients who underwent hysterectomy for uterine prolapse served as controls. RESULTS: Membrane expression for E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin was decreased and low expression (< or =50% positive cells) was found in 198/219 (90%), 154/219 (70%), 157/219 (72%), and 181/219 (83%) tumors, respectively, and high (>50% positive cells) in 21/219 (10%), 65/219 (30%), 62/219 (28%), and 38/219 (17%) tumors, respectively. In univariate analysis, all classical clinicopathological parameters but none of the investigated proteins were associated with prognosis. In multivariate analysis, only deep stromal invasion was independently related to survival. CONCLUSION: E-cadherin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin were not independently associated with prognosis in stage IB SCC.