Sequential analysis of cadherin expression in a 4-year-old girl with intracranial ependymoma

Cadherins are Ca(2+)-dependent cell-to-cell adhesion molecules that play an important role in tissue construction and morphogenesis in multicellular organisms. Cadherin involvement in tumor metastasis has recently been reported. We investigated the expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin in paraffin-embedded sequential surgical specimens and autopsy specimens from a 4-year-old girl with recurrent ependymoma, subsequent to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination. We observed low expression of E-cadherin in all surgical specimens and autopsy specimens. In contrast, expression of N-cadherin was high in all surgical specimens, but was decreased in autopsy specimens. Decreased expression of N-cadherin may be associated with CSF dissemination and may serve as a useful marker for CSF dissemination in patients with intracranial ependymoma.