title: Expression of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: The expression of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin has previously been shown to be reduced in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and absent in nodal metastases. Twenty-eight patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, 22 of whom had nodal metastases at presentation, were investigated for E-cadherin expression using the monoclonal antibody 6F9, specific for human E-cadherin. Reduced expression was seen in the poorly differentiated primary tumours, compared with well differentiated tumours, but this trend was not statistically significant. E-cadherin expression was present at a reduced level in nodal metastases. It was also noted that, where both the primary tumour and corresponding nodal metastasis were investigated, E-cadherin expression was identical for both samples. The degree of E-cadherin expression did not correlate with survival. These data confirm a reduction in E-cadherin expression in poorly differentiated tumours. There was no correlation between E-cadherin expression and any of the host, tumour and treatment factors associated with malignancies of the head and neck region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Bowie
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Caslin
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Roland
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kinsella
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules