title: The role of E-cadherin expression in non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of E-cadherin expression in lung cancer. E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody (HECD-1). Strongly positive (++) E-cadherin tumors were classified as a type of preserved E-cadherin expression (Pr type), while the others (+, - tumors) were classified as a type of reduced E-cadherin expression (Rd type). The frequency of Pr type in squamous cell carcinomas (59.0%) was higher than Rd type. However, in adenocarcinomas, the frequency of Rd type was higher than Pr type. E-cadherin expression pattern was significantly correlated with differentiated state (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.394, p<0.001). E-cadherin expression of well-differentiated tumors was more frequently preserved than that of poorly differentiated tumors (60.0% vs. 25.9%). With regard to the correlation between E-cadherin expression and stages of lymph node metastasis in non-small cell lung cancers, the percentage of tumors with Pr type E-cadherin expression declined from 66.3% (< or = N1) to 38.6% (> or = N2), indicating that loss of E-cadherin expression is responsible for acquisition of invasive potential of lung cancer as well as the possible role of E-cadherin in the histological differentiation of lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Korea. lscmd@chonnam.chonnam.ac.kr
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015820:Cadherins