J Korean Med Sci.  2000 Oct;15(5):501-506. 10.3346/jkms.2000.15.5.501.

The role of E-cadherin expression in non-small cell lung cancer

• Lim SC
• Jang IG
• Kim YC
• Park KO

• KMID: 965869
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2000.15.5.501

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of E-cadherin expression in lung cancer. E-cadherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody (HECD-1). Strongly positive (++) E-cadherin tumors were classified as a type of preserved E-cadherin expression (Pr type), while the others (+, - tumors) were classified as a type of reduced E-cadherin expression (Rd type). The frequency of Pr type in squamous cell carcinomas (59.0%) was higher than Rd type. However, in adenocarcinomas, the frequency of Rd type was higher than Pr type. E-cadherin expression pattern was significantly correlated with differentiated state (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.394, p>0.001). E-cadherin expression of well-differentiated tumors was more frequently preserved than that of poorly differentiated tumors (60.0% vs. 25.9%). With regard to the correlation between E-cadherin expression and stages of lymph node metastasis in non-small cell lung cancers, the percentage of tumors with Pr type E-cadherin expression declined from 66.3% (> or = N1) to 38.6% (> or = N2), indicating that loss of E-cadherin expression is responsible for acquisition of invasive potential of lung cancer as well as the possible role of E-cadherin in the histological differentiation of lung cancer.

Keyword

Cadherins; Lung Neoplasms; Lymph Nodes

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antibodies, Monoclonal
Cadherins/immunology
Cadherins/biosynthesis*
Cadherins/analysis*
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology*
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/chemistry
Female
Human
Immunohistochemistry
Lung Neoplasms/pathology*
Lung Neoplasms/metabolism
Lung Neoplasms/chemistry
Lymph Nodes/pathology
Male
Middle Age
Predictive Value of Tests
Prognosis