E-cadherin and CD10 expression in atypical hyperplastic and malignant endometrial lesions

Abstract EN

Background : Loss of E-cadherin is a critical step for development and progression of malignant tumors.

CD10 ; a marker of non-neoplastic and neoplastic endometrial stroma, is associated with aggressiveness of many epithelial malignancies.

Aims : To evaluate expression and correlation of E-cadherin and CD10 in endometrial lesions and their possible role in differentiating atypical endometrial hyperplasia from endometrial carcinoma.

The association of E-cadherin and CD10 expression with clinico-pathological parameters of endometrial carcinoma was also investigated.

Materials and methods : Fifty four cases including 28 endometrial carcinomas ; 19 endometrial hyperplasia and 7 cases of normal endometrial changes were enrolled for this study.

The expression of E-cadherin and CD10 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using the streptavidin-biotintechnique.

Results : There was a strong association between malignant change of endometrial glands and membrano- cytoplasmic localization of E-cadherin (p < 0.001).

Expression of E-cadherin but not CD10 was significantly higher in endometrial carcinomas compared to atypical endometrial hyperplasia (p < 0.01).

Expression of E-cadherin was not associated with CD10 expression in different endometrial lesions.

High grade tumors expressed low levels of both E-cadherin (p < 0.01) and CD10 (p < 0.05) and serous endometrial carcinoma had low E-cadherin and CD10 expression compared to endometrioid carcinoma (p < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively).

Expression of both molecules showed no association with depth of tumor invasion or FIGO stage.

Tumors with lower E-cadherin or CD10 expression had higher rates of vascular tumor emboli (p < 0.01 and < 0.07, respectively).

Conclusions : Although expression of E-cadherin and CD10 in endometrial lesions was not correlated, reduced expression of both molecules could be critical for progression of endometrial carcinoma.