Low E-cadherin and β-catenin expression correlates with increased spontaneous and artificial lung metastases of murine carcinomas

Tetsuo Akimoto, Shinichiro Kawabe, Axel Grothey, Luka Milas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between the expression of E-cadherin or β-catenin in murine adenocarcinomas and their hematogenous metastatic propensity, assessed by both spontaneous and artificial lung metastasis. Seven different carcinomas, syngeneic to C3Hf/Kam mice were used: 4 mammary carcinomas (MCa-4, MCa-29, MCa-35, and MCa-K), ovarian carcinoma OCa-I, hepatocarcinoma HCa-I, and adenosquamous carcinoma ACa-SG. These tumors vary widely in their ability to spontaneously metastasize to the lung (from 0 to 100% metastatic incidence), and their cells greatly differ in their ability to form artificial lung nodules when injected i.v. Primary tumors in the leg were assessed for E-cadherin and β-catenin expression by western botting. The expression of both proteins showed wide variation among the tumors; however, the expression of E-cadherin correlated well with that of β-catenin. There was significant inverse correlation between the expression of E-cadherin, as well as β-catenin, and the incidence of both spontaneous and artificial lung metastases from these tumors. Spontaneous metastases of highly metastatic HCa-I and moderately metastatic MCa-35 were significantly lower in E-cadherin and β-catenin expression than their corresponding primary tumors were. Thus, the propensity of murine carcinomas for hematogenous spread is highly related to E-cadherin and β-catenin levels in primary tumors. The inverse correlation between the expression of these molecules and spontaneous and artificial metastases implies that tumor cells with low E-cadherin and β-catenin content have increased ability to enter the vascular circulation at the primary tumor site and to colonize distant tissues.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)171-176
Number of pages6
JournalClinical and Experimental Metastasis
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • E-cadherin
  • Hematogenous metastasis
  • Mouse tumor
  • β-catenin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Low E-cadherin and β-catenin expression correlates with increased spontaneous and artificial lung metastases of murine carcinomas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this