E-cad

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue block or cell block, or 1 unstained charged slide for each test requested plus 3-4 additional unstained slides cut at 4 microns. Adequate space on each slide for control tissue is required.

E-cadherin is a 120 kDa transmembrane cell adhesion molecule, and plays a significant function in the intercellular adhesion of epithelial cells. Down-regulation, either through genetic or epigenetic mechanisms, of E-Cadherin gene, resulting in the loss or significant reduction, of expression of the protein is most useful as a marker in distinguishing lobular (negative) from ductal (positive) carcinoma of the breast.