E-cadherins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins involved in epithelial specific and calcium- dependent intercellular adhesion. E-cadherin function is regulated by its associated cytoplasmic protein, alpha-catenin, which links E-cadherin to the actin-based cytoskeleton. This study is to determine what lack and differrence in expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin between benign, CIS, and invasive carcinoma of uterine cervix.

89 tissue specimens were obtained by punch biopsy, conization, and hysterectomies. Sections were classified according to FIGO staging as benign cervix, carcinoma in situ, invasive cervical carcinoma. The expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin was examined immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies. What degree in expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin in three group was investigated. The chi2 test was used to assess the statistical significance of this study.

The correlation between the altered expression of E-cadherin/alpha-catenin and the histopathologic diagnosis was statistically significant.

According to this result, we found that the distribution and intensity in expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin is altered during tumor progression of cervical carcinoma.