The prognostic role of E-cadherin and β-catenin overexpression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) consists of a rapid and reversible change in the cellular phenotype toward the mesenchymal cell phenotype that facilitates cell migration and invasion of the tumor into surrounding tissues followed by metastasis. In the present study, we sought to determine the clinical significance of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, α-catenin, γ-catenin, caveolin-1, and vimentin in a cohort of patients with stage I to IVA laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) treated with surgery with or without adjuvant therapy using immunohistochemical analyses.


METHODS
Individual retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, α-catenin, γ-catenin, caveolin-1, and vimentin immunohistochemical expression were evaluated in a cohort of 82 patients with stages I to IVA LSCC. The Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables, and the Mann-Whitney test where appropriate for continuous variables. Survival comparisons was performed using the log-rank test. A multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model was performed and considered all EMT markers.


RESULTS
In multivariate analysis, T stage was an independent risk factor for adverse disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) (P = .025 and .019, respectively). Cytoplasmic β-catenin overexpression was independently associated with a longer DSS (P = .0007), and E-cadherin overexpression was found to be an independent risk factor for poor OS (P = .030).


CONCLUSIONS
E-cadherin and β-catenin pathways could represent future therapeutic targets in the treatment of LSCC. However, validation of our results in prospective cohorts of patients with LSCCs is required before their clinical implementation.


METHODS
NA.
Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Antonio
A
Greco
Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.|Department of Surgical Science, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Armando
A
De Virgilio
Department of Surgical Science, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Maria Ida
MI
Rizzo
Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Fabio
F
Pandolfi
Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Davide
D
Rosati
Department Organs of Sense, ENT Section, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Marco
M
de Vincentiis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D015820:Cadherins; D051176:beta Catenin
E-cadherin; caveolin-1; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; larynx carcinoma; β-catenin