title: Prognostic significance of N-Cadherin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  N-Cadherin (CDH2) is a calcium-dependent adhesion protein, whose de novo expression, re-expression, up-regulation and down-regulation in human tumors has been demonstrated. The aim of the present work was to define the prognostic role of N-Cadherin in a large series of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 94 selected OSCCs were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed by immunohistochemistry for N-Cadherin. The association between protein expression and clinico-pathological parameters was assessed by statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In neoplastic tissue, N-Cadherin levels were more evident than in normal peritumoral epithelium (p<0.05). Protein staining was mainly detected in the neoplastic cells, and only focal nuclear positivity was observed. Expression of cytoplasmic N-Cadherin correlated significantly with poor histological differentiation (p<0.05). Furthermore, we have observed significant a statistical trend for stage and a correlation with worst patient outcome, also confirmed by Kaplan-Meier estimates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our work has underlined the key-role of N-Cadherin in oral carcinogenesis and in the prognostic stratification of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Via L. De Crecchio, 7, 80138 Naples, Italy. marina.didomenico@unina2.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DI Domenico
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Pierantoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DE Rosa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rullo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazzotta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sanguedolce
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perillo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papagerakis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bufo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pannone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins