[Expression and diagnostic application of C4.4A protein in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the diagnostic utility of C4.4A gene expression in discriminating a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from an adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of C4.4A protein in 157 cases of SCC and 177 cases of adenocarcinoma of various organs.


RESULTS
Overall, 141 of 157 cases of SCC strongly expressed C4.4A protein. In contrast, only 8 of 177 adenocarcinomas showed partial or scattered cell expression of C4.4A protein. The statistic difference between the two groups was highly significant (chi(2) = 244.93, P = 0.000), and also when the tumors were stratified according to the degree of differentiation (P = 0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
C4.4A protein expression may serve as a valuable tumor marker in discriminating a squamous cell carcinoma from an adenocarcinoma, and therefore, may greatly facilitate the differential diagnosis of an epithelial malignancy.
Wang
Wei
W
Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
Ding
Yan-qing
YQ
Li
Zu-guo
ZG
Han
Hui-xia
HX
Yang
Lei
L
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C472589:LYPD3 protein, human