Localization and level of expression of beta-catenin in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the participation of beta-catenin in the histologic differentiation of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.


METHODS
At the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, a tertiary referral center, localization and level of expression of beta-catenin were compared between normal epithelium (15 cases) and primary tumors in different degrees of differentiation (38 cases), using an immunohistochemical procedure.


RESULTS
Cell membrane staining of beta-catenin was observed in normal epithelium and in well and moderately differentiated carcinomas. Cytoplasmic redistribution was observed in poorly differentiated carcinomas. Loss of beta-catenin correlated with tumor dedifferentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduction of cell membrane beta-catenin expression correlated with tumor dedifferentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of beta-catenin may lead to diminishing the strength of the intercellular adhesion system, thereby promoting the invasive phenotype of the squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
Lopez-Gonzalez
Jose Sullivan
JS
Departmentos de Enfermedades Cronico Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Mexico City, mexico. slopzgonzalez@yahoo.com
Cristerna-Sanchez
Lissete
L
Vazquez-Manriquez
Maria Eugenia
ME
Jimenez-Orci
Gonzalo
G
Aguilar-Cazares
Dolores
D
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin