title: Altered expression of E-cadherin and &#946;-catenin in malignant transformation of sinonasal inverted papillomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin are molecules that mediate cell-cell adhesion in normal epithelium. Aberrant expression of these adhesion molecules results in the loss of intercellular adhesion, with possible cell transformation and tumour progression. We determined the role of E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin in the pathogenesis of sinonasal inverted papilloma (IP) and its malignant transformation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the expression of E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded tissue of 21 subjects with nasal polyps, 56 with IPs, 7 IPs with dysplasia and 18 IPs with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The clinicopathological variables of the IPs with SCC correlated with the degree of expression of E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The degree of expression of E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin in the cell membrane was significantly lower in IPs with SCC than in nasal polyps and IPs. The degree of expression of &amp;#946;-catenin was significantly lower in IPs with SCC with a malignant proportion &gt; 50% compared to a malignant proportion &amp;#8804; 50%. However, there was no significant association between the degree of expression of E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin and clinicopathological variables, such as age, gender, T stage, tumour differentiation, or SCC type (metachronous vs. synchronous). In addition, there was no significant relationship between recurrence or survival rate in IPs with SCC and the degree of expression of E-cadherin or &amp;#946;-catenin in the cell membrane or nuclear &amp;#946;-catenin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased expression of E-cadherin and &amp;#946;-catenin in the cell membrane may be associated with carcinogenesis of IPs and help predict malignant transformation in sinonasal IPs.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Koo
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Jung
authors: S G
authors: SG
authors: Kim
authors: Z L
authors: ZL
authors: Liang
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Yeong
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Rha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018308:Papilloma, Inverted / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin