title: Expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin in T1 N0 laryngeal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether modulation of expression of cell adhesion molecules occurs in neoplastic transformation of laryngeal epithelium and to investigate their possible role in clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five T1 N0 laryngeal biopsies were tested by immunohistochemistry for the E-cadherin/α-catenin adhesion complex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and α-catenin was found in 18% and 53% cases, respectively. Expression of both adhesion molecules decreased according to histological grading; a significant relationship was particularly found between high E-cadherin expression and G1 cases (p=0.013). High E-cad-herin expression was statistically associated with in situ carcinoma (p=0.006). Non-statistical significance was evidenced between these adhesion molecules and tobacco use or site of occurence. Regarding clinical outcome, recurrence was associated with low expression of both adhesion molecules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-cadherin and α-catenin down-regulation might be associated with neoplastic transformation in laryngeal tissues and might be regarded as a risk factor for clinical recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, A.O. Sant'Andrea, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00198 Rome, Italy. elisabetta.carico@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carico
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radici
authors.forename: Nunzia Simona
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Losito
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Firrisi
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabiano
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manola
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchione
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Giovagnoli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001706:Biopsy; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin