title: E-cadherin expression in basal cell carcinoma.
abstract: E-cadherin (E-CD) is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule which is expressed in almost all epithelial tissues. E-CD expression is involved in epidermal morphogenesis and is reduced during tumour progression of mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that E-CD could play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule. In the present work we have studied the E-CD expression in 31 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using an immunohistochemical technique with a monoclonal antibody (HECD-1) specific for human E-CD. E-CD expression was preserved in all specimens of superficial and nodular BCC, and was reduced in 10 of 15 infiltrative BCCs. A heterogeneous distribution of cells with different immunostaining intensity was more frequently observed in specimens of infiltrative BCC. These results suggest that E-CD might be related to the growth pattern and the local aggressive behaviour of BCC, and support the idea that E-CD might play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatologia, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizarro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quintanilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Contreras
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gamallo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis*; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins