OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of E-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC).

METHODSEighty-nine cases of OSCC and 20 cases of normal oral mucosa were collected. Then the 89 cases of OSCC were classified as grade I, II, III. The semiquantitative method was used to calculated the positive intensity and positive rate. The relationship between the OSCC differentiation and the four biomarkers was analyzed.

RESULTSThe median of E-cadherin was 9.00 in the normal tissue, 9.00, 6.00 and 6.00 in OSCC I, II and III, respectively. There was significant difference between the normal group and OSCC group (Z=-4.211, P=0.000). The median of vimentin was 0.00 in the normal tissue, 0.00, 0.00 and 4.00 in OSCC I, II and III, respectively. There was significant difference between the normal group and OSCC group (Z=-3.675, P=0.000). The median of β-catenin was 9.00 in the normal tissue, 3.00, 4.00 and 3.00 in OSCC I, II and III, respectively. There was significant difference between the normal group and OSCC group (Z=-6.300, respectively. There was significant difference between the normal group and OSCC group (Z=-3.329, P=0.000). E-cadherin expression was positively correlated to β-catenin expression (r=0.327, P=0.002), negtively correlated to vimentin expression (r=-0.386, P=0.001) and positively correlated to TGF-β1 expression (r=-0.304, P=0.004). Vimentin expression was positively correlated to TGF-β1 expression (r=0.401, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONSE-cadherin and β-catenin in OSCC had a down-regulated expression, while the vimentin has an up-regulated expression.