Frequent loss of E-cadherin and/or catenins in intrabronchial lesions during carcinogenesis of the bronchial epithelium.
Inactivation of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system is believed to play a role in the initial steps of cancer invasion and metastasis. Expression of E-cadherin and its intracytoplasmic binding molecules (alpha-catenin, beta-catenin, and plakoglobin) was examined immunohistochemically in 84 cases of intrabronchial precancerous lesions (bronchial squamous metaplasia (BSM) without atypia, BSM with atypia, dysplasia), and 21 cases of carcinoma in situ, and 4 cases of microinvasion to the bronchial wall, and 32 cases of stage I well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) to investigate the association between expression of E-cadherin and/or catenins and cancer progression. Reduced expression of E-cadherin and/or catenins was closely correlated with an atypical grade of dysplasia in the basal layer (p<0.05). In particular, downregulation of E-cadherin and/or catenins was associated with an atypical grade of BSM with atypia in intrabronchial lesions (p<0.01). We conclude that downregulation of alpha-catenin and/or beta-catenin, which may reflect dysfunction of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system, is an important marker for atypical grade during carcinogenesis of the bronchial epithelium.
Kato
Yasufumi
Y
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.
Hirano
Takashi
T
Yoshida
Koichi
K
Yashima
Koichi
K
Akimoto
Shingo
S
Tsuji
Ko
K
Ohira
Tatsuo
T
Tsuboi
Masahiro
M
Ikeda
Norihiko
N
Ebihara
Yoshiro
Y
Kato
Harubumi
H
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051180:Desmoplakins; D015536:Down-Regulation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C495273:CTNNA1 protein, human; C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D051180:Desmoplakins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin; D051185:gamma Catenin