title: E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α2β1 and α3β1 integrin expression in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and its regional metastasis.
abstract: To investigate E-cadherin, β-catenin, and α2β1 and α3β1 integrins in 40 samples of non-metastatic and metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) with positive cervical lymph nodes (LN). Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate expression in the lesion center (LC) and invasive tumor front (ITF) of non-metastatic (n=18) and metastatic (n=22) OSCC and in the LN on the metastatic neoplastic cells (MNC; n=22). In metastatic OSCC, E-cadherin and β-catenin presented significantly lower cytoplasmic membrane expression in the ITF and MNC when compared to the LC and lower cytoplasmic expression in MNC when compared to the LC and ITF (p<0.05). Integrins α2β1 and α3β1 showed high cytoplasmic expression in the LC, ITF and MNC (p>0.05). A positive correlation was observed between E-cadherin cytoplasmic expression and α2β1 (p=0.860) and α3β1 (p=0.975) expression. When comparing the primary sites of metastatic and non-metastatic disease, β-catenin presented lower cytoplasmic membrane (p=0.013) expression in metastatic OSCC. E-cadherin presented low expression and the integrins high expression in both groups. Abnormal expression of β-catenin and E-cadherin associated with high expression of α2β1 and α3β1 integrins contribute to LN metastasis in OSCC.
authors: Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors: Mariana Quirino Silveira
authors: MQ
authors: Soares
authors: Medical School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brasil.
authors: Juliana Andrade
authors: JA
authors: Mendonça
authors: Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors: Marília Oliveira
authors: MO
authors: Morais
authors: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Claudio Rodrigues
authors: CR
authors: Leles
authors: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology and Radiology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Aline Carvalho
authors: AC
authors: Batista
authors: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology and Radiology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. elismaur@ufg.br.
authors: Elismauro Francisco
authors: EF
authors: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038982:Integrin alpha2beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D038982:Integrin alpha2beta1; D039201:Integrin alpha3beta1; D051176:beta Catenin