Molecular Plasticity of E-Cadherin and Sialyl Lewis X Expression, in Two Comparative Models of Mammary Tumorigenesis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2009

Authors

Pinho, SS (Author) Other; Celso Reis (Author) ICBAS; Fátima Gärtner (Author) ICBAS; Alpaugh, ML (Author) Other

Journal

Title: PLoS ONE

Vol. 4

Final page: e6636

ISSN: 1932-6203

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 13 Citations

Scopus - 16 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-GS9

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006636

Abstract (EN): Background: The process of metastasis involves a series of steps and interactions between the tumor embolus and the microenvironment. Key alterations in adhesion molecules are known to dictate progression from the invasive to malignant phenotype followed by colonization at a distant site. The invasive phenotype results from the loss of expression of the E-cadherin adhesion molecule, whereas the malignant phenotype is associated with an increased expression of the carbohydrate ligand-binding epitopes, (e.g. Sialyl Lewis (x/a)) that bind endothelial E-selectin of the lymphatics and vasculature. Methodology: Our study analyzed the expression of two adhesion molecules, E-cadherin and Sialyl Lewis x (sLe(x)), in both a canine mammary carcinoma and human inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) model, using double labelled immunofluorescence staining. Results: Our results demonstrate that canine mammary carcinoma and human IBC exhibit an inversely correlated cellular expression of E-cadherin and sLe(x) within the same tumor embolus. Conclusions: Our results in these two comparative models (canine and human) suggest the existence of a biologically coordinated mechanism of E-cadherin and sLe(x) expression (i.e. molecular plasticity) essential for tumor establishment and metastatic progression.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6