Cell-cell adhesion molecules and signaling intermediates and their role in the invasive potential of prostate cancer cells.

PURPOSE

The highly variable natural history of prostate carcinoma may be reflected in heterogeneity of invasive potential between tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have examined two prostate cancer cell lines of low invasive potential (CAHPV10 and PZHPV7) and three cell lines of high invasive potential (DU-145, PC-3, LNCapFGC), to determine whether specific adhesion molecule profiles correlated with their invasive behavior.

RESULTS

Using an in vitro invasion assay, we demonstrated that DU-145, LNCapFGC and PC-3 cells were highly invasive compared with CA-HPV-10 and PZ-HPV-7 cells. LNCapFGC cells expressed high levels of E-cadherin, alpha-, beta- and gamma-catenin, desmoglein, desmoplakin and GSK3beta using immunoblotting. This was, in general, comparable to immunohistochemical staining. PC-3 cells had no E-cadherin or alpha-catenin, but expressed a high level of the HGF/SF receptor c-Met. In contrast, DU-145 cells were found to express E-cadherin and low levels for all other protein molecules, except c-Met. The DU-145 cell line also lacked alpha-catenin expression. In CA-HPV-10 and PZ-HPV-7 cells, there was no detection of APC, PECAM-1, P-cadherin or Wnt-1. DU-145, LNCapFGC and PC-3 cells formed cell-cell aggregates, which were reduced by inclusion of anti-E-cadherin antibody and the motogen HGF/SF.

CONCLUSION

These results show that prostate cancer cells exhibit a diverse expression of cell-cell adhesion molecules and their signaling intermediates. The expression of these adhesion molecules bears an important relationship with the invasive phenotype of these cells.