title: Expression of E-cadherin in squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx with correlations to clinicopathological features.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of E-cadherin expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx. 101 primary carcinomas were retrospectively studied. The level of E-cadherin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. There was a significant correlation between decreased E-cadherin expression and the presence of nodal metastases (P=0.007). T-stage (P=0.025) and histological grade (P=0.043) were also associated with nodal metastases. Multivariate analysis confirmed that these three parameters were independent predictors of nodal metastases. Decreased E-cadherin expression also correlated with an increase in recurrence rates (P=0.019). However, in multivariate analysis only pathological N-stage was significantly associated with disease-specific survival. We conclude that E-cadherin is an independent predictor of nodal metastases in supraglottic squamous cell carcinomas. Determination of E-cadherin expression levels might be useful in identifying patients with clinically negative lymph nodes who are at risk of occult metastases, allowing more effective treatment strategies to be implemented.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Central de Austurias, Universidad de Oviedo, Instituto Universitario de Oncología de Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. jrodrigo@hcas.insalud.es
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Rodrigo
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Domínguez
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Alvarez
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Manrique
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Herrero
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Suárez
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005931:Glottis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins