Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
10911792 | Lung Cancer | 2005 | 8 Pages |
Abstract
Inactivation of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system is believed to play a role in the initial steps of cancer invasion and metastasis. Expression of E-cadherin and its intracytoplasmic binding molecules (α-catenin, β-catenin, and plakoglobin) was examined immunohistochemically in 84 cases of intrabronchial precancerous lesions (bronchial squamous metaplasia (BSM) without atypia, BSM with atypia, dysplasia), and 21 cases of carcinoma in situ, and 4 cases of microinvasion to the bronchial wall, and 32 cases of stage I well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) to investigate the association between expression of E-cadherin and/or catenins and cancer progression. Reduced expression of E-cadherin and/or catenins was closely correlated with an atypical grade of dysplasia in the basal layer (p < 0.05). In particular, downregulation of E-cadherin and/or catenins was associated with an atypical grade of BSM with atypia in intrabronchial lesions (p < 0.01). We conclude that downregulation of α-catenin and/or β-catenin, which may reflect dysfunction of the cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion system, is an important marker for atypical grade during carcinogenesis of the bronchial epithelium.
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Authors
Yasufumi Kato, Takashi Hirano, Koichi Yoshida, Koichi Yashima, Shingo Akimoto, Ko Tsuji, Tatsuo Ohira, Masahiro Tsuboi, Norihiko Ikeda, Yoshiro Ebihara, Harubumi Kato,