Cancer Res Treat.  2004 Feb;36(1):56-61.

Reduced Expression of E-cadherin in Human Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma

• Myong NH

Abstract

PURPOSE
E-cadherin, a calcium-dependent cell to cell adhesion molecule, plays a key role in the maintenance of tissue integrity. Reduction or loss of E-cadherin has been reported to have a role in the development of human malignancies. The expression of E-cadherin was analyzed in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) to elucidate the role in pulmonary carcinogenesis and determine the relationship with several clinicopathological factors and the prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty five human cases of NSCLC were evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis for the expression of E-cadherin. The immunostaining results for E-cadherin were semiquantitatively interpreted, as preserved and reduced, in the tumor tissues. The E-cadherin expression was analyzed in relation to several clinicopathological data and the survival. The cell proliferation index of the tumors was evaluated by immunostaining with the Ki-67 antigen. RESULTS: Reduced E-cadherin expression was found in 51 cases of NSCLC tissues (78.4%) compared to that in the normal controls. Reduced E-cadherin expression was significantly correlated with male smokers and squamous cell type of the cancer, but not with histological grade, TNM stage and survival. The E-cadherin expression showed a weak inverse relationship with the proliferative activity of tumor cells, which was measured using the Ki-67 antigen. CONCLUSION: Our data support the hypothesis that reduced E-cadherin expression may play a role in the pathogenesis of human NSCLC, which might be associated with the control for cell proliferation.

Keyword

E-cadherin; Non-small cell lung carcinoma; Ki-67 antigen

MeSH Terms

Cadherins*
Carcinogenesis
Cell Adhesion
Cell Proliferation
Humans*
Ki-67 Antigen
Lung*
Male
Prognosis
Cadherins
Ki-67 Antigen

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Normal bronchial and alveolar epithelia as the paracarcinoma controls show distinct membranous expression for E-cadherin proteins (×400).

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  Fig. 2 A squamous cell carcinoma of the lung reveals higher E-cadherin expression in the better differentiated than the poorly differentiated areas within the same tumor cell cluster (×400).

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  Fig. 3 A pulmonary adenocarcinoma reveals preserved E-cadherin expression, regardless of differentiation (×400).

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  Fig. 4 A squamous cell carcinoma, with reduced E-cadherin expression (A), shows high Ki-67 proliferative activity (B) in the tumor cells (×400).

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