E-Cadherin

Recognizes a protein of 120-80kDa, identified as E-cadherin. Cadherins comprise a family of Ca2+-depedent adhesion molecules that function to mediate cell-cell binding critical to the maintenance of tissue structure and morphogenesis. The c;assical cadherins, E-, N- and P-cadherin, consist of larg extracellular domains characterized by a series of five homologous NH2 terminal repeats. The relatively short intercellular domains interact with a variety of cytoplasmic proteins, such as β-catenin, to regulate cadherin function. E-cadherin plays an important role in epithelial cell adhesion. A decreased expression of E-cadherin is associated with metastatic potential and poor prognosis in breast cancer, prostate and esophageal cancer. In combination with p120 Catenin, it is useful for the differentiation between ductal (E-cadherin +) and lobular (E-cadherin -) breast carcinomas. It may also help in diagnosis of mesothelioma.