Reduced expression of E-cadherin in human non-small cell lung carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell to cell adhesion molecule, plays a key role in the maintenance of tissue integrity. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin has been reported to have a role in the development of human malignancies. The expression of E-cadherin was analyzed in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) to elucidate the role in pulmonary carcinogenesis and determine the relationship with several clinicopathological factors and the prognosis.


METHODS
Sixty five human cases of NSCLC were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis for the expression of E-cadherin. The immunostaining results for E-cadherin were semiquantitatively interpreted, as preserved and reduced, in the tumor tissues. The E-cadherin expression was analyzed in relation to several clinicopathological data and the survival. The cell proliferation index of the tumors was evaluated by immunostaining with the Ki-67 antigen.


RESULTS
Reduced E-cadherin expression was found in 51 cases of NSCLC tissues (78.4%) compared to that in the normal controls. Reduced E-cadherin expression was significantly correlated with male smokers and squamous cell type of the cancer, but not with histological grade, TNM stage and survival. The E-cadherin expression showed a weak inverse relationship with the proliferative activity of tumor cells, which was measured using the Ki-67 antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data support the hypothesis that reduced E-cadherin expression may play a role in the pathogenesis of human NSCLC, which might be associated with the control for cell proliferation.
Myong
Na-Hye
NH
Department of Pathology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Chungnam, Korea. myongnh@dankook.ac.kr
Br J Cancer. 1995 Mar;71(3):614-6
7880746
Hepatology. 1996 Jun;23(6):1441-7
8675162
Am J Pathol. 1998 Nov;153(5):1521-30
9811344
Lung Cancer. 1998 Nov;22(2):85-95
10022216
Hum Pathol. 1997 Jun;28(6):641-5
9190996
Oncology. 1997 Mar-Apr;54(2):158-65
9075789
Cancer. 1998 May 1;82(9):1649-56
9576284
Ann Hematol. 1994 Feb;68(2):81-3
7511935
Lung Cancer. 2002 Aug;37(2):147-52
12140137
Cancer Res. 1993 Aug 1;53(15):3585-90
8339265
Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003 Sep;24(3):441-9
12965318
Am J Pathol. 1996 May;148(5):1375-80
8623909
Clin Exp Metastasis. 1994 Jan;12(1):55-62
8287621
Int J Cancer. 1996 Jun 21;69(3):184-9
8682585
Curr Opin Cell Biol. 1993 Oct;5(5):806-11
8240824
J Korean Med Sci. 2000 Oct;15(5):501-6
11068984
Clin Cancer Res. 2000 Dec;6(12):4789-96
11156236
Ann Thorac Surg. 2001 Mar;71(3):949-54; discussion 954-5
11269479
Science. 1991 Mar 22;251(5000):1451-5
2006419
Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998 Apr;157(4 Pt 1):1319-23
9563756
J Cell Biol. 1998 Jul 27;142(2):557-71
9679152
Int J Oncol. 1994 Feb;4(2):441-8
21566944
Lung Cancer. 1999 Jun;24(3):157-68
10460003
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2000 Oct;48(5):294-9
11100763