Transcriptional impairment of β-catenin/E-cadherin complex is not associated with β-catenin mutations in colorectal carcinomas

Abstract

We report the absence of β-catenin mutations in 63 sporadic colorectal carcinomas (SCRCs) with demonstrated decreased β-catenin and E-cadherin mRNA expression and E-cadherin protein expression in a subset of carcinomas examined, suggesting that β-catenin mutations are an extremely rare phenomenon in SCRCs and are not responsible for the transcriptional impairment of the β-catenin/E-cadherin adhesion complex observed in these tumours. © 2003 Cancer Research UK.