Adehesion Molecules in Endometriosis and Endometrioid Adenocarcinoma Show Altered Expressions Suggesting a Commonality Between These Diseases

The cadherin family of proteins is significantly deexpressed in endometriosis and even more so in endometrioid adenocarcinoma. A similar finding was observed for the cadherin-associated cell adhesion protein plakoglobin. E-cadherin was not de-expressed in endometriosis but was significantly reduced in cancer. P-cadherin, a marker for dysplasia and neoplasia, was significantly increased in both endometriosis and cancer. Taken together, these findings suggest that cell adhesion is lost as dysplasia/neoplasia develops. It further suggests that endometriosis has features in common with endometrioid adenocarcinoma and perhaps with other cancers. (The J Histotechnol 28:185, 2005)Submitted: February 9, 2005; accepted July 11, 2005