title: The cadherin-catenin complex in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Abnormal Wnt signaling and impaired cell-cell adhesion due to abnormal E-cadherin and β-catenin function have been implicated in many cancers, but have not been fully explored in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. In this study, β-catenin cellular location and E-cadherin expression levels were analyzed in 16 laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCCs) (9 glottic and 7 supraglottic) and 11 samples of non-tumoral inflammatory larynx tissue, using immunohistochemical methods. All non-tumoral tissues showed equally strong membranous expression of β-catenin, while cytoplasmic expression was found in only 3 of the 11 samples. By contrast, whereas 8/9 glottic LSCCs exhibited only membranous expression of β-catenin, 6/7 supraglottic LSCCs displayed both membranous and cytoplasmic expression (p = 0.003). Strong E-cadherin staining was observed in 9/11 non-tumoral tissues and 7/9 glottic LSCCs, whereas 4/7 supraglottic LSCCs exhibited weak expression. Reduced membrane expression of E-cadherin and cytoplasmic retention of β-catenin in supraglottic LSCC seems to be related with more aggressive biological behavior which has been described in clinical studies. Further research is required to clarify the involvement of β-catenin in the mechanism associated with malignant transformation in laryngeal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Deparment of Surgery, University of Seville, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galera-Ruiz
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ríos-Moreno
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González-Cámpora
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Escudero
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Galera-Davidson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin