E-cadherin and calretinin as immunocytochemical markers to differentiate malignant from benign serous effusions

摘要

AIM: To investigate the expressions of E-cadherin and calretinin in exfoliated cells of serous effusions and evaluate their values in distinguishing malignant effusions from benign ones.METHODS: Fresh serous effusion specimens were centrifuged and exfoliated cells were collected. Cells were then processed with a standardized procedure, including paraformaldehyde fixation, BSA-PBS solution washing and smears preparation. E-cadherin and calretinin were detected by immunocytochemistry (ICC).RESULTS: In the exfoliated cells of serous effusions, most of carcinoma cells only expressed E-cadherin, and most of mesothelial cells only expressed calretinin, and benign cells (lymphoo/tes and granuloo/tes) did not express either of them. For E-cadherin, 85.7% (30/35) of malignant effusions and 8.1% (3137) of benign fluids were ICC-positive (P<0.O01).The sensitivity of E-cadherin ICC in the diagnosis of malignant effusions was 85.7%, specificity 91.9%, and diagnostic rate 88.9%. For calretinin, 94.6% (35/37) of benign effusions and 11.4% (4/35) of malignant effusions were ICC-positive (P