Objective To investigate the association between malignant gestational trophoblastic diseases and aberrant local expression of E-cadherin and integrin β-1 in the context of identifying a method to predict and diagnose malignant gestational trophoblastic diseases at an early stage.

Methods We used immunohistochemistry to assess E-cadherin and integrin β-1 expression profiles in normal chorionic villus, hydatidiform mole, and invasive mole.

Results E-cadherin expression gradually decreased from normal tissue to malignant tissue. Staining for E-cadherin was positive in 90% of normal trophoblastic villus in early pregnancy, 80% in benign hydatidiform mole, and 50% in invasive mole. Notably, invasive mole had significantly lower E-cadherin expression than benign mole (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in staining between benign and malignant moles (15% vs 10%, P > 0.05). Integrin β-1 expression was identical in benign hydatidiform mole and malignant mole (90% and 90%), but this value was significantly higher than that in normal trophoblastic villus (40%, both P < 0.05). Moreover, malignant mole staining was significantly higher than in the benign mole (30% vs 15%, P < 0.05).

Conclusions Aberrant expression of E-cadherin and integrin β-1 is closely related to malignant transformation and hydatidiform mole development. Changes in the expression of E-cadherin and integrin β-1 are informative and may improve the early diagnosis of malignant/invasive moles.