Expression of E-Cadherin and beta-Catenin in Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue.
- Author:
Jin Ha JEON
1
;
Min Sik KIM
;
Sung Jae HWANG
;
Sang Hee JUNG
;
Jong Woo LEE
;
Seung Ho CHO
;
Ji Han JUNG
;
Byung Gi KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Squamous cell carcinoma;
Tongue;
E-cadherin;
beta-catenin
- MeSH:
beta Catenin*;
Cadherins*;
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell*;
Cell Adhesion;
Down-Regulation;
Humans*;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Tongue*
- From:Korean Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
2001;44(11):1177-1182
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that inactivation of the cadherin-mediated cell to cell adhesion system plays a role in the initial steps of cancer invasion and metastasis. We investigated the relationship between the expressions of E-cadherin and beta-catenin to the clinicopathologic findings in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The expression of the E-cadherin and beta-catenin was examined immunohistochemically in 39 squamous cell carcinomas of the tongue and 5 cases of normal tissue. RESULTS: The expression of the E-cadherin and beta-catenin was reduced or absent in 15/39 (39%), 20/39 (51%) cases of the tumors examined, respectively. The reduced expression of the E-cadherin was associated with decreased histologic differentiation (p=0.001) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.006) and the reduced expression of the beta-catenin with decreased histologic differentiation (p=0.001). There were significant correlation between E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates a significant down-regulation of E-cadherin, and that the beta-catenin expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is specifically associated with decreased histologic differentiation and lymph node metastasis. These results suggest that E-cadherin and beta-catenin may be useful markers of lymph node metastatic potential and valuable prognostic markers in the early stage of the disease.
