title: Expression of adhesion proteins (E-cadherin and β-catenin) and cell proliferation (Ki-67) at the invasive tumor front in conventional oral squamous cell and basaloid squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Investigate, on a comparative basis, the expression of the adhesion molecules E-cadherin (E-cad), β-catenin (β-cat) and the proliferation index (Ki-67) at the invasive tumor front (ITF) in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five SCC and 16 BSCC cases were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathological and survival data were also evaluated and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a low expression of E-cad in the cytoplasmic membrane (p=0.50) as well as in the nucleus (p=0.31) for both SCC and BSCC. A high expression of E-cad was seen in the cytoplasm for the SCC group (80%) when compared to the BSCC group (25%) (p<0.01). The expression of β-cat was low in the cytoplasmic membrane and high in the cytoplasm in both SCC and BSCC groups. Both types of carcinoma presented low expressions of β-cat in the nucleus (p=0.03). The Ki-67 expression was low irrespective of tumor variant. The high expression of E-cad in the cytoplasm was associated with T3/T4 tumors (p=0.04) in the SCC group and there was no significant association of E-cad, β-cat, Ki-67 with the other clinical variables. In terms of disease-free survival and overall survival, there were no significant differences between SCC and BSCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The E-cad-β-cat system was found to be dysregulated in both oral SCC and oral BSCC. The Ki-67 cell proliferation index was extremely low in the cases investigated and consequently had no prognostic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Henrique
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília Oliveira
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Allisson Filipe Lopes
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Departament of Stomatology, University of São Paulo, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Quirino Silveira
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Anatomopathology and Cytopathology Division of Araújo Jorge Hospital, Goiás Combat Cancer Association, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Gonçalves
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Carvalho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. Electronic address: elismaur@ufg.br.
authors.forename: Elismauro Francisco
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma; E-cadherin; Front invasion tumoral; Ki-67 protein; Squamous cell carcinoma; β-catenin