title: Down regulation of E-Cadherin (ECAD) - a predictor for occult metastatic disease in sentinel node biopsy of early squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prognostic factors in predicting occult lymph node metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are necessary to improve the results of the sentinel lymph node procedure in this tumour type. The E-Cadherin glycoprotein is an intercellular adhesion molecule in epithelial cells, which plays an important role in establishing and maintaining intercellular connections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the value of the molecular marker E-Cadherin in predicting regional metastatic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  E-Cadherin expression in tumour tissue of 120 patients with HNSCC of the oral cavity and oropharynx were evaluated using the tissue microarray technique. 110 tumours were located in the oral cavity (91.7%; mostly tongue), 10 tumours in the oropharynx (8.3%). Intensity of E-Cadherin expression was quantified by the Intensity Reactivity Score (IRS). These results were correlated with the lymph node status of biopsied sentinel lymph nodes. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to determine statistical significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  pT-stage, gender, tumour side and location did not correlate with lymph node metastasis. Differentiation grade (p = 0.018) and down regulation of E-Cadherin expression significantly correlate with positive lymph node status (p = 0.005) in univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that loss of E-cadherin expression is associated with increased lymhogeneous metastasis of HNSCC. E-cadherin immunohistochemistry may be used as a predictor for lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  2b.
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. gerry.huber@usz.ch
authors.forename: Gerhard F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Züllig
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soltermann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roessle
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Stephan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Haerle
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Studer
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jochum
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moch
authors.forename: Sandro J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stoeckli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins