title: Expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in basaloid and conventional squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: are potential prognostic markers?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma presents with a preference for the head and neck region, and shows a distinct aggressive behavior, with frequent local recurrences, regional and distant metastasis. The alterations in the cadherin-catenin complex are fundamental requirements for the metastasis process, and this is the first study to evaluate the immunostaining of E-cadherin and β-catenin in oral basaloid squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen cases of this tumor located exclusively in the mouth were compared to 26 cases of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and 28 cases of well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma matched by stage and tumor site. The immunostaining of E-cadherin and β-catenin were evaluated in the three groups and compared to their clinicopathological features and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For groups poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma, reduction or absence of E-cadherin staining was observed in more than 80.0% of carcinomas, and it was statistically significant compared to well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (p = .019). A strong expression of β-catenin was observed in 26.9% and 20.8% of well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, respectively, and in 41.2% of basaloid squamous cell carcinoma. The 5-year and 10-year overall and disease-free survival rates demonstrated no significant differences among all three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical and biological behavior of three groups of the oral cavity tumors evaluated are similar. E-cadherin and β-catenin immunostaining showed no prognostic value for basaloid and conventional squamous cell carcinomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinic and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Alfenas Federal University, 700, CEP 37130-000 Alfenas, MG, Brazil. jachanemann@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: João Adolfo Costa
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hanemann
authors.forename: Denise Tostes
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Suely
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nonogaki
authors.forename: Inês Nobuko
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Nishimoto
authors.forename: Marina Lara
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: de Carli
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Landman
authors.forename: Luiz Paulo
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin