The Relationship between Expression of E-Cadherin, Clinical Staging and Differentiation in Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In recent years, much attention has been directed towards cell adhesion molecules. This study was designed to confirm the significance of E-cadhcrin as a marker for differentiation and invasiveness of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were used in this study. The specimens of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were investigated by immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal anti-E-cadherin antibody. RESULTS: The results showed that here was a statistically significant correlation in the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma between the T and the N stage and the expression of E-cadherin (p=0.025, p=0.015). The cell differentiation was also correlated with the reduction of E-cadherin (p =0.005). CONCLUSION: E-cadherin may be linked to progression and differentiation of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. E-cadherin immunostaining in the primary tumor appear to be a good marker for the invasiveness and the metastasis of tumors.