1. ¹Institute for Pathology, Limb Tumor Registry, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
2. ²Max-Planck-Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
3. ³Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery-Burn Centre, Limb Tumor Registry, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany

Correspondence: Cornelius Kuhnen, M.D., Institute for Pathology, Limb Tumor Registry, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, D- 44789 Bochum, Germany. e-mail: patho-bhl@ruhr-uni-bochum.de; fax: 49–234-3026671

Accepted 6 April 2000.

Abstract

Besides its role in cell adhesion, -catenin exerts a function as an oncoprotein. The aim of this study was the characterization of its expression, possible mutation, and the assessment of -catenin as a prognostic indicator for soft tissue sarcomas. A total of 115 soft tissue sarcomas were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, immunogold-electron microscopy, and DNA analysis. Information from 56 patients was available for follow-up. A statistically significant correlation was found between intracellular distribution of -catenin and the proliferative activity (MIB-1 expression) in high-grade sarcomas (P = .0008). -catenin was identified with intracytoplasmic and nuclear accumulation, showing additional membranous staining in sarcomas with epithelioid pattern. Ultrastructurally, a colocalization between -catenin and nuclear heterochromatin was demonstrated. In 22 analyzed tumors, only one (yet undescribed) mutation of the -catenin gene (C-A transversion) could be detected. Prognostic validity of the cellular expression of -catenin, however, was not proven. Apart from its membranous function as an effective molecule for cell-adhesion in sarcomas with epithelioid pattern, -catenin may act as an oncoprotein in sarcomas with intracytoplasmic and nuclear localization with binding to nuclear DNA. A previously discussed stimulation of cell proliferation caused by an increased -catenin level can also be postulated for high-grade soft tissue sarcomas in correlation with the rate of proliferation. Mutations of the -catenin gene are probably of lesser importance for the accumulation of -catenin in soft tissue sarcomas.