Deranged expression of the E-cadherin/beta-catenin complex and the epidermal growth factor receptor in the clinical evolution and progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas.
BACKGROUND
Deranged expression and function of the E-cadherin/beta-catenin (E-cad/beta-cat) complex and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been implicated in the development and progression of carcinomas.


METHODS
To estimate the role of these molecules in oral cancer, we investigated 75 primary oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) with adjacent normal and/or dysplastic mucosa, 30 paired metastases and 12 recurrences by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
All three molecules were constitutionally expressed in the basal/parabasal layers of tumour adjacent 'normal' epithelium, in contrast to a significant increase of EGFR and heterogeneous expression of E-cad/beta-cat in dysplasia. In OSCCs, over-expression of EGFR correlated significantly with lower tumour grade and poor prognosis, loss of E-cad was a significant marker for shortened survival, reduced beta-cat staining was a predictive marker for lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a perturbance in intercellular adhesion molecules and EGFR expression/function in oral cancer with major clinical impact. E-cad and beta-cat seem to inhibit EGFR to enhance the progression of OSCCs.
Bánkfalvi
Agnes
A
Domagk Institute of Pathology, University of Münster, Germany. bankfal@uni-muenster.de
Krassort
Melanie
M
Végh
András
A
Felszeghy
Endre
E
Piffkó
Jozsef
J
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016014:Linear Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D051176:beta Catenin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin; D066246:ErbB Receptors