title: [Expression and significance of E-cadherin in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the expression of E-cadherin and the methylation status of CDH1 and explore their clinical significance in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of E-cadherin was detected by the immunohistochemical method. And the methylation of CDH1 gene promoter 5'-CpG island was analyzed by real-time methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (real-time MSP) in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and normal salivary gland tissue respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression rate of E-cadherin was lower in SACC than that in normal salivary gland tissue (100.0% vs 55.6%, P < 0.05). And the expression of E-cadherin was associated with different histopathological types, T-stage, nerve invasion, lymphatic and distant metastasis (P < 0.05). However, there was no correlation between the expression of E-cadherin and gender, age and tumor location. Partial methylation of CDH1 was detected in 3 of 30 cases with a positive expression of E-cadherin and full methylation of CDH1 in 23 of 24 cases with a negative expression of E-cadherin. There was a negative correlation between the expression of E-cadherin and the methylation of CDH1 in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (r = -0.483, P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The down-regulation of E-cadherin, as modulated by the methylation of CDH1, may contribute to nerve invasion, lymphatic and distant metastasis in SACC. Thus it may be used as a biological indicator of malignancy and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head & Neck Tumor Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Research Institute, Hangzhou, China. gemingh@163.com
authors.forename: Ming-hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Zhi-qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jiang-liu
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D003528:Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins