ABSTRACT
E-Cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule involved in tumor progression and metastasis. We evaluated the E Cadherin expression pattern in oral SCC and investigated its relationship to histopathological features. The expression of E-Cadherin was evaluated in 43 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of oral SCC by immunohistochemistry. In normal squamous epithelium, E-Cadherin was expressed uniformly at the cell membrane. Abnormal E-Cadherin expression with loss of membranous localization was found in 62.8% cancer specimens. We used a scoring system for semi quantitative comparison of results. Altered E-Cadherin expression was found more often in higher grades than in lower grades [p=0.000] There was not any significant correlation between E-cadherin expression and muscular invasion [P>0.1]. There was not significant correlation between sex and E-cadherin expression. Abnormal expression of E-Cadherin occurs frequently in oral squamous cell carcinoma and correlates with dedifferentiation of tumors. Moreover, E-Cadherin expression is not associated with muscular invasion. We concluded that loss of normal E-Cadherin expression might serve as a differentiation marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Short running title: E-Cadherin Expression in Oral SCC