PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Joao Paulo Mancusi de Carvalho
AU  - Rafael C Salim
AU  - Filomena Marino Carvalho
AU  - Maria Luiza Nogueira Dias Genta
AU  - Edmund Chada Baracat
AU  - Jesus Paula Carvalho
TI  - L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) in stage IB cervical cancer: distinct expression in squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas
AID  - 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206500
DP  - 2020 Nov 01
TA  - Journal of Clinical Pathology
PG  - 748--753
VI  - 73
IP  - 11
4099  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/73/11/748.short
4100  - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/73/11/748.full
SO  - J Clin Pathol2020 Nov 01; 73
AB  - Aims L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) has been shown to be correlated with tumour progression, attributed to its possible association with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), characterised by the expression of vimentin and loss of e-cadherin. Herein, we investigate the associations between L1CAM and clinicopathological parameters, as well as the expression of vimentin and e-cadherin, in carcinomas restricted to the cervix.Methods The study was retrospective observational and included 45 squamous cell carcinomas (63.4%) and 26 adenocarcinomas (36.6%) submitted to primary surgical treatment. Patient age, FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage, tumour size and follow-up were obtained from the medical records. All the slides were revised to evaluate histological differentiation, lymphovascular space invasion, depth of infiltration, disease-free cervical wall thickness, pattern of invasion front, Silva pattern (for adenocarcinomas) and the percentage of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. Tissue microarrays were constructed for immunohistochemical staining for L1CAM, e-cadherin and vimentin.Results Adenocarcinomas were associated with lower disease-free and overall survival. L1CAM and vimentin expressions were more frequent among adenocarcinomas, although loss of e-cadherin expression was more common among squamous carcinomas. L1CAM expression was associated with larger tumours, vimentin expression and lower disease-free survival. No association was observed between the expression of either L1CAM or vimentin and loss of e-cadherin. High levels of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes were more frequent in squamous cell carcinoma, high-grade tumours, destructive pattern at front of invasion and loss of e-cadherin expression.Conclusions Our results confirm the prognostic role of L1CAM in cervical carcinomas, but suggest a role for mechanisms other than EMT.