title: Expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin, and beta-catenin in the process of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Regional lymph node metastasis is a very important prognostic indicator. In the metastatic process, reduction in cell to cell adhesion including E-cadherin-catenin cell adhesion complex is an essential step. We investigated immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin in 159 tissue samples from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and examined the correlation between their expressions and the presence of regional lymph node metastasis. Significantly greater reduction in expression levels of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin was found in the metastatic group (n=64) compared to the nonmetastatic group (n=95) (P=0.007, 0.001, 0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant correlation between their expressions and the features of the regional metastasis, the number of metastatic lymph nodes or the presence of extracapsular metastasis. These data suggest that evaluation of the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and beta-catenin is extremely valuable for the diagnosis of metastatic occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South 1, West 16, Chuou-ku Sapporo 060-0061 Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Odajima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin