Atypical E-cadherin expression in cell clusters overlying focally disrupted mammary myoepithelial cell layers: Implications for tumor cell motility and invasion

作者：Zhang Xichen; Hashemi Shahreyar Shar; Yousefi Morvarid; Gao Chunling; Sheng Joy; Ni Jinsong; Wang Wan; Mason Jeffrey; Man Yan gao^*

来源：Pathology Research and Practice, 2009, 205(6): 375-385.

DOI：10.1016/j.prp.2008.08.009

• E-cadherin
• Breast cancer invasion
• Myoepithelial cell layer disruption
• Epithelial-stromal-interaction
• Double immunohistochemistry

Our recent studies showed that cell clusters overlying focal myoepithelial cell layer disruptions (FMCLD) had a significantly higher rate of ER negativity, genetic instabilities, and expression of invasion-related genes than adjacent cells within the same duct. This study attempted to determine if these cells would show aberrant E-cadherin expression, which imparts greater propensity for cell motility and invasion. Consecutive sections from breast tumors with a high frequency of FMCLD were double-immunostained for E-cadherin and a panel of related markers. The E-cadherin mRNA levels in cells overlying FMCLD and adjacent cells within the same duct were compared using real-time PCR. Nearly all the cell clusters overlying FMCLD were strongly immunoreactive for E-cadherin, whereas their adjacent counterparts within the same duct were largely negative. Cell clusters overlying FMCLD were generally arranged as tongue-like projections, "puncturing" deep into the stroma or tube-like structures that often contained red blood cells. The sub-cellular localization of E-cadherin in the above structures, however, was primarily cytoplasmic. The mRNA level of E-cadherin in cell clusters overlying FMCLD was significantly higher than that in adjacent cells within the same duct. These findings suggest that aberrant expression of E-cadherin may contribute to cell motility and invasion. Published by Elsevier GmbH.

• 出版日期2009
• 单位吉林大学