ONCOmmunity

Prognostic significance of N-Cadherin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

By: DI Domenico M, Pierantoni GM, Feola A, Esposito F, Laino L, DE Rosa A, Rullo R, Mazzotta M, Martano M, Sanguedolce F, Perillo L, D'Angelo L, Papagerakis S, Tortorella S, Bufo P, Lo Muzio L, Pannone G, Santoro A.

Department of General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Via L. De Crecchio, 7, 80138 Naples, Italy. marina.didomenico@unina2.it
Anticancer Res. 2011 Dec; 31(12):4211-8.

Abstract

Background

N-Cadherin (CDH2) is a calcium-dependent adhesion protein, whose de novo expression, re-expression, up-regulation and down-regulation in human tumors has been demonstrated. The aim of the present work was to define the prognostic role of N-Cadherin in a large series of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Materials and Methods

A total of 94 selected OSCCs were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed by immunohistochemistry for N-Cadherin. The association between protein expression and clinico-pathological parameters was assessed by statistical analysis.

Results

In neoplastic tissue, N-Cadherin levels were more evident than in normal peritumoral epithelium (p<0.05). Protein staining was mainly detected in the neoplastic cells, and only focal nuclear positivity was observed. Expression of cytoplasmic N-Cadherin correlated significantly with poor histological differentiation (p<0.05). Furthermore, we have observed significant a statistical trend for stage and a correlation with worst patient outcome, also confirmed by Kaplan-Meier estimates.

Conclusion

Our work has underlined the key-role of N-Cadherin in oral carcinogenesis and in the prognostic stratification of patients.

PMID: 22199283 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Source: National Library of Medicine.