title: E-cadherin regulators are differentially expressed in the epithelium and stroma of keratocystic odontogenic tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the process where cells lose their epithelial features and acquire properties of typical mesenchymal cells. The dissociation of tumor cells due to changes in cell-cell adhesion is one of the key principles of tumor invasion and EMT. Thus, the knowledge of the molecular features of EMT in keratocyst odontogenic tumor (KOT) can provide useful markers to aid in the diagnosis and prognosis and perhaps contribute to an alternative therapeutic approach as it shows an aggressive clinical behavior and high recurrence rates. This study aimed to evaluate the EMT in KOT by the immunoexpression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug and comparing to radicular cysts and dental follicles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two KOTs, 15 radicular cysts, and 08 dental follicles were used for immunohistochemistry, evaluating the extent, intensity, labeling pattern, cellular compartment in the epithelium and stroma, and the presence of inflammation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E-cadherin was preserved in most cases of keratocystic odontogenic tumor. N-cadherin was increased in the tumor epithelium, a result that was positively correlated with the heterogeneous and nuclear immunoexpression of Slug in the epithelium; Slug also correlated with high Snail immunoexpression. N-cadherin was positively correlated with Slug in the stroma of keratocystic odontogenic tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high immunoexpression of Snail and nuclear Slug in keratocystic odontogenic tumors suggests these proteins as transcription factors without necessarily participating in 'cadherin switching'. However, the knowledge of their induction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in odontogenic tumors is still limited.
authors.affiliation: Pos-graduate Program of Dentistry and Health, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lia Pontes Arruda
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Surgical Pathology Laboratory, Department of Propaedeutics and Integrated Clinical Practicum, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jean Nunes
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Propaedeutics and Integrated Clinical Practicum, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Maria Pedreira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andreia Leal
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Pos-graduate Program of Dentistry and Health, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bráulio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Carneiro Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Propaedeutics and Integrated Clinical Practicum, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarissa Araújo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8922-2985
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gurgel
authors.affiliation: Extracellular Matrix Biology and Cellular Interaction Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Katiúcia Batista Silva
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Surgical Pathology Laboratory, Department of Propaedeutics and Integrated Clinical Practicum, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Caló Aquino
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Xavier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003795:Dental Sac / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; C050361:CDH2 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors
keywords: E-cadherin; cell adhesion; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; immunohistochemistry; odontogenic tumors