title: E-cadherin loss and Delta Np73L expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas showing aggressive behavior.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article sought to investigate the existence of parameters useful for predicting lymph node metastases in cases of surgically resected oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight cases were studied for E-cadherin and the truncated dominant-negative isoform of p63 (Delta Np63) with immunohistochemistry. In addition, the p63 gene expression profile was evaluated by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to disclose the presence of the truncated variant Delta Np73L.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E-cadherin expression was the most powerful parameter related to the presence of lymph node metastases at presentation. Twenty-four of 38 (63%) cases showing low E-cadherin expression had lymph node metastases at presentation compared with 5 of 20 (25%) (p <.01) cases showing high E-cadherin expression. The high predictive value was also maintained when a low expression of E-cadherin was associated with immunohistochemical high expression of DeltaNp63. The association between low E-cadherin expression and Delta Np73L (as seen with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) was highly predictive for developing lymph node metastases, especially in small tumors (T1\T2). When this association occurred, metastases developed in 62.5% of cases during the follow-up compared with 16.1% in those which did not show low E-cadherin expression and presence of Delta Np73L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that low E-cadherin expression is useful for predicting lymph node metastases in cases of OSCC. The predictive value is enhanced when low E-cadherin positivity is associated with DeltaNp63 and Delta Np73L expression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathological Anatomy, University of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy. mariapia.foschini@ausl.bologna.it
authors.forename: Maria P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Foschini
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cocchi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marucci
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pennesi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Righi
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tosi
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Biase
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pession
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Montebugnoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000172:deficiency*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000032:analysis*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; C115051:TP63 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins