E-cadherin and Catenins in Oral Cancer Metastasis
Author Information
Author(s): Tanaka N, Odajima T, Ogi K, Ikeda T, Satoh M
Primary Institution: Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Is the expression of E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin correlated with lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma?
Conclusion
Reduced expression of E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin is significantly associated with lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Supporting Evidence
- Reduced expression of E-cadherin was observed in 48 out of 95 pN(−) cases and in 44 out of 64 pN(+) cases.
- There was a significant association between reduction of E-cadherin in primary tumors and lymph node metastasis (P=0.007).
- The expressions of α-catenin and β-catenin were also significantly reduced in pN(+) cases compared to pN(−) cases.
Takeaway
This study found that when certain proteins are less present in oral cancer cells, it can mean the cancer is more likely to spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Methodology
The study analyzed 159 primary tumor samples from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma using immunohistochemistry to evaluate the expression of E-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin.
Limitations
The study did not explore the mechanisms behind the reduced expression of these proteins.
Participant Demographics
The participants included 55 males and 104 females, aged 26 to 85 years, with an average age of 59.0 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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