[Expression of E-cadherin and uPA and their prognostic value in carcinoma of human larynx.].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of E-cadherin (ECD) and uPA in laryngeal cancer and evaluate their clinical value in prognosis.


METHODS
ECD and uPA were determined by immunohistochemistry of Envision methods in carcinoma tissues of 51 patients of laryngeal carcinoma. All patients were followed and the prognostic factors were analyzed.


RESULTS
Among 51 patients' tumor tissues, 24 (47.1%) were negative expression of ECD, and 26 (51.0%) were positive uPA immunoreaction was observed. There were four subgroups of patterns of ECD and uPA expression: 14 (27.1%) ECD-positive/uPA-negative, 13 (25.5%) ECD-negative/uPA-negative, 11 (21.6%) ECD-positive/uPA-positive, and 13 (25.5%) ECD-negative/uPA-positive. The tumor tissues with ECD-negative and uPA-positive expression were significant associated with lymph nodes metastasis (chi(2) = 5.545, 5.79, P = 0.019, 0.016 respectively). Patients with ECD-negative expression had a shorter survival than the patients with ECD positive expression but no statistic difference (chi(2) = 2.534, P > 0.05). Patients with uPA-positive expression had a significantly shorter survival time than those with uPA-negative expression (chi(2) = 6.259, P < 0.05). There was a difference for the median survival time between the patients with uPA-negative/ECD-positive and the patients with uPA-positive/ECD-negative in laryngeal cancer tissue (chi(2) = 6.559, P = 0.01), and the survival curves between these two groups was also statistically significant difference. Multivariate analysis of Cox revealed that clinical stage and ECD/uPA (P = 0.009, 0.007 respectively) were two independent prognostic factors.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination analysis of uPA and ECD immunohistochemical expression in the laryngeal cancer tissue may be useful for predicting tumor metastatic risks and patient's prognosis.
Wu
Hai-Yan
HY
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China. Email: xiagao213@yahoo.com.cn.
Shen
Xiao-Hui
XH
Ni
Rong-Sheng
RS
Qian
Xiao-Yun
XY
Gao
Xia
X
D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002277:Carcinoma; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator
D015820:Cadherins; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator