Focal adhesion kinase and E-cadherin as markers for nodal metastasis in laryngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the value of E-cadherin and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression in the prediction of cervical lymph node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis of retrospectively selected cases. Patients The study population was composed of 95 previously untreated men with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx. Intervention All the patients underwent surgical resection of the tumor and bilateral neck dissection.


METHODS
E-cadherin and FAK expression in relation to nodal metastases.


RESULTS
Decreased E-cadherin expression was correlated with the presence of nodal metastases (P = .006). The combination of E-cadherin and FAK expression resulted in a superior accuracy in assessing nodal metastasis (P = .001). Histological grade was also associated with nodal metastases (P = .005). Multivariate analysis confirmed that these parameters were independent predictors of nodal metastases. In addition, the cases with decreased E-cadherin and increased FAK expression presented a significantly reduced disease-specific survival (P = .005).


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of the expression of E-cadherin and FAK could increase our ability to identify patients with clinically negative lymph nodes who are at considerable risk for occult metastases.
Rodrigo
Juan Pablo
JP
Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain. juanpablo.rodrigo@sespa.princast.es
Dominguez
Francisco
F
Suárez
Vanessa
V
Canel
Marta
M
Secades
Pablo
P
Chiara
Maria Dolores
MD
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1