alpha-catenin is a significant prognostic factor than E-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to analyze clinicopathologic variables in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) according to expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin which play an important role in cell adhesion.


METHODS
We immunohistochemically examined E-cadherin and alpha-catenin in 205 patients with ESCC. The expression results were classified into two groups: preserved expression (+) and reduced expression (-).


RESULTS
The incidence of E-cadherin (-) and alpha-catenin (-) was 52% and 54%, respectively and significantly related each other. For both E-cadherin and alpha-catenin, reduced expression was significantly related to tumor depth, nodal metastasis, stage, recurrence, and prognosis. In the E-cadherin (+) group, the alpha-catenin (+) and alpha-catenin (-) patients differed significantly in tumor depth, nodal metastasis, stage, hematogenous and lymphatic recurrences (P < 0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001 and =0.007, respectively). According to coexpression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin, the prognosis was best in patients with E-cadherin (+) and alpha-catenin (+), and worst in patients with E-cadherin (-) and alpha-catenin (-). Multivariate analysis revealed that alpha-catenin expression was an independent prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The examination of expression of E-cadherin and especially alpha-catenin is useful for predicting lymph node metastasis and clinical outcome of ESCC.
Setoyama
Tetsuro
T
Department of Surgical Oncology and Digestive Surgery, Field of Oncology, Course of Advanced Therapeutics, Kagoshima University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, Japan. setoyam2@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Natsugoe
Shoji
S
Okumura
Hiroshi
H
Matsumoto
Masataka
M
Uchikado
Yasuto
Y
Yokomakura
Naoya
N
Ishigami
Sumiya
S
Aikou
Takashi
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin