E-cadherin as a functional marker of the differentiation and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
The cell-cell-adhesion molecule E-cadherin is necessary for the maintenance of the epithelial cellular structure. We were able to show a correlation between decreasing E-cadherin expression, dedifferentiation and increased invasiveness in a cell line model. We studied 73 squamous cell carcinomas from the upper aerodigestive tract using the immunofluorescent method to demonstrate expression of E-cadherin. Decreased E-cadherin expression correlated with a decreased grade of differentiation and an increased lymph node metastatic rate. This confirms the significance of E-cadherin as a marker for differentiation and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and larynx.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Essen, Medical School, Germany.
J H
JH
Schipper
A
A
Unger
K
K
Jahnke
D015820:Cadherins; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis
D015820:Cadherins