p120 catenin

Home > Stains & CD markers > p120 catenin

Stains & CD markers
p120 catenin

Authors: Cameron Neely, M.D., Xiaoxian (Bill) Li, M.D., Ph.D.

Editor-in-Chief: Debra L. Zynger, M.D.

Last author update: 1 September 2018

Last staff update: 5 September 2023

Copyright: 2018-2024, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.

PubMed Search: p120 catenin[title] pathology

Table of Contents

Cite this page: Neely CE, Li X. p120 catenin. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsp120.html. Accessed December 21st, 2024.

Definition / general

p120 catenin (along with α, β and γ catenins) connects the transmembrane protein E-cadherin to the actin cytoskeleton in the cell cytoplasm (Histopathology 2016;68:57)

Essential features

Membranous p120 catenin staining pattern is seen in many normal epithelial and nonepithelial tissues (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2014;138:1629, Histochem Cell Biol 2000;114:147)
Normal breast epithelium and in situ / invasive ductal carcinomas show membranous p120 catenin expression (Histopathology 2016;68:57)
Diffuse cytoplasmic p120 catenin staining (without strong membranous staining) is seen in in situ / invasive lobular carcinoma and other lesions with dysfunctional E-cadherin / catenin unit (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2014;138:1629, Histopathology 2016;68:57)
p120 catenin can be used as a supplement to E-cadherin to differentiate lobular from ductal neoplasia in morphologically challenging cases (Histopathology 2016;68:57, Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427)

Pathophysiology

p120 catenin (along with α, β and γ catenins) connects the transmembrane protein E-cadherin to the actin cytoskeleton in the cell cytoplasm (Histopathology 2016;68:57)
p120 catenin is primarily bound to E-cadherin at a juxtamembranous site, with a smaller amount of cytoplasmic p120 catenin (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2014;138:1629)
Cadherin / catenin unit is key for cellular adhesion, motility and polarity (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2014;138:1629, Breast Cancer Res 2015;17:12)
p120 catenin also regulates Rho GTPases, impacting cytoskeletal reorganization (Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci 2013;116:409)
In cancer cells with loss of E-cadherin or dysfunctional cadherin / catenin unit, there is redistribution of p120 catenin to the cytoplasm, which may promote cell survival and migration (Breast Cancer Res 2015;17:12, Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427)

Interpretation

Diffuse cytoplasmic staining in lesions with dysfunctional E-cadherin / catenin unit (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2014;138:1629, Histopathology 2016;68:57)

Uses by pathologists

Supplement to E-cadherin to differentiate lobular from ductal neoplasia in morphologically challenging cases (Histopathology 2016;68:57, Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427)
p120 catenin may show cytoplasmic staining pattern in rare cases of lobular neoplasia with membranous E-cadherin, due to the underlying dysfunctional cadherin / catenin unit (Histopathology 2016;68:57)
Caution: invasive ductal carcinoma may show weak cytoplasmic staining in addition to strong membranous staining (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2007;15:260)

Prognostic factors

Abnormal expression of p120 catenin has been associated with:
- Later stage disease and reduced survival in colon carcinoma (Cancer Res 2005;65:10938)
- Poor prognosis in lung squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (Histol Histopathol 2006;21:841)
- More aggressive phenotype of pancreatic carcinoma (Gastroenterology 2003;124:949)

Microscopic (histologic) images

Contributed by Debra Zynger, M.D.

Atypical lobular hyperplasia

Lobular carcinoma in situ

Invasive lobular carcinoma

Invasive ductal carcinoma

Images hosted on other servers:

E-cadherin, p120 catenin
and their cocktail in
ductal carcinoma in situ

E-cadherin, p120 catenin
and their cocktail in
lobular carcinoma in situ

Positive staining - normal

Membranous:
- Variety of normal epithelial tissues (including thyroid gland, breast, stomach, duodenum, liver, pancreas, colon, kidney, prostate, testis) (Histochem Cell Biol 2000;114:147, Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2007;15:260)
- Variety of nonepithelial tissues (including cardiomyocytes, neurons, glia) (Histochem Cell Biol 2000;114:147)

Positive staining - tumors

Cytoplasmic:
- Atypical lobular hyperplasia (91 - 100%) (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Mod Pathol 2005;18:741)
- Lobular carcinoma in situ, including pleomorphic variant (~100%) (Mod Pathol 2005;18:741, Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2014;7:2551, Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2007;15:260, Am J Surg Pathol 2008;32:1721)
- Invasive lobular carcinoma, including pleomorphic variant (~100%) (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2007;15:260, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2009;133:1635 [CAP poster 28], pdf)
- May be seen in other carcinomas, including some gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas, particularly diffuse type (J Pathol 1999;189:180, Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427)
Membranous:
- Ductal carcinoma in situ (~100%) (Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2014;7:2551)
- Invasive ductal carcinoma (~100%) (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427, Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2007;15:260, Arch Pathol Lab Med 2009;133:1635 [CAP poster 28], pdf)
- Variety of other carcinomas (Am J Surg Pathol 2007;31:427)

Negative staining - normal

p120 catenin is generally not completely negative

Molecular / cytogenetics description

Not detected by FISH, PCR or any other molecular methods

Board review style question #1

Which of the following immunoprofiles is most consistent with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast?

GATA3-, CK7-, E-cadherin-, p120 catenin diffuse cytoplasmic
GATA3+, CK7+, E-cadherin+, p120 catenin strong membranous
GATA3+, CK7+, E-cadherin-, p120 catenin strong membranous
GATA3+, CK7+, E-cadherin+, p120 catenin diffuse cytoplasmic

Board review style answer #1

B. GATA3+, CK7+, E-cadherin+, p120 catenin strong membranous. E-cadherin positivity and strong membranous p120 catenin staining are consistent with ductal carcinoma. Diffuse cytoplasmic p120 catenin staining and absence of E-cadherin would be consistent with lobular carcinoma.

Comment Here

Reference: p120 catenin

Board review style question #2

A p120 immunostain of a breast proliferation is shown. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Atypical ductal hyperplasia
Atypical lobular hyperplasia
Invasive ductal carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma

Board review style answer #2

B. Atypical lobular hyperplasia

Comment Here

Reference: p120 catenin

Home > Stains & CD markers > p120 catenin