Clinicopathological Significance of E-Cadherin, β-Catenin and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Background/Aims: The study investigated the pathogenetic role of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGER) in cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and analyzed the correlation with clinicopathological factors. Methodology: Eighty three patients with CC who had undergone resection were studied. The expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and EGER was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results: The down-regulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin was identified in 43/83 patients (51.8%) and 32/83 patients (38.6%), respectively. EGER expression occurred in 46 of 83 patients (55.4%). The reduced membranous expression of E-cadherin was correlated with poor histological differentiation. The reduced membranous expression of beta-catenin was correlated with higher tendency of vascular invasion and was more frequent in males. EGFR was more expressed in poorly differentiated CC. The reduced membranous expression of E-cadherin was significantly correlated with reduced expression of beta-catenin. Conclusions: The reduced expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin and EGFR over expression seems to be correlated with tumor differentiation and tumor progression than tumor invasion and tumor proliferation.