CDH1 and ovarian cancer: Encodes epithelial cadherin or E-cadherin. When individuals inherit the mutated form of this gene, it causes hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, which can increase the risk of developing invasive lobular breast cancer in women. Mutations in this gene can also cause colorectal, thyroid, and ovarian cancers. Loss of function of CDH1 increases tumor proliferation, invasion, and/or metastasis.