title: Expression of Ep-CAM, but not of E48, associates with nodal involvement in advanced squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) and E48 expression, and their relationship with histological differentiation and nodal metastasis, in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of Ep-CAM and E48 was investigated using immunohistochemistry in a series of 66 SCC (stages 3 and 4) and their adjacent non-neoplastic epithelia. Ep-CAM expression increased with the progression from normal squamous epithelium to SCC. It was detected in 96% of carcinomas and high levels of Ep-CAM expression (50% or more positive cells) were associated with poorer differentiation (P = 0.003) and the presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.001). E48 expression was characteristically strong and diffuse in non-neoplastic squamous epithelium, and decreased with progression to SCC. Poorly differentiated (grade 4) tumours had lower proportions of E48-positive cells than well- to moderately- differentiated cases (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of both Ep-CAM and E48 correlated with cell differentiation, although in inverse fashion. In particular, the association between high levels of Ep-CAM expression and high frequency of nodal metastases suggests that Ep-CAM plays a role in the development of lymph node metastases in SCC of the larynx.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Coia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romeu
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardesa
authors.forename: Alfons
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nadal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018450:Disease Progression; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C499379:EPCAM protein, human; D000071858:Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C094237:LY6D protein, human