E-Cadherin Expression in Surgically-Resected Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers - a Clinicopathological Study
Resource
THE THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON v.48 n.5 pp.294-299
Journal
THE THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEON
Journal Volume
v.48
Journal Issue
n.5
Pages
294-299
Date Issued
2000
Date
2000
Author(s)
Lee, Y.-C.
Wu, C.-T.
Luh, S.-P.
Lee, J.-M.
Chen, C.-S.
Chang, Y.-L.
Abstract
Background: E-Cadherin is a subclass of the cadherin family that plays a major role in the maintenance of intercellular junctions in normal epithelium. Decreased expression of E- cadherin might be closely related to invasiveness and dedifferentiation in human cancers. This study is aimed at investigating the clinicopathological significance of E- cadherin expression and its impact on the prognosis in surgically resected non- small-cell lung cancer patients. Methods: Using immunohistochemical staining, the expression of E-cadherin was studied in 207 surgically resected lung cancer specimens from January 1990 through December 1994. The clinicopathological data and survival status were recorded and analysed against the E-cadherin expression level in each tumor. Results: E -cadherin expression was detected in 122 of the 207 lung tumors (59.0%), and the expression was significantly lower in tumors with poor differentiation (p<0.001), in tumors with vascular invasion( p<0.05), and in tumors with direct invasion into surrounding structures (p<0.01). There was no correlation between E- cadherin expression, and tumor stage and regional lymph-node metastasis. There was no significant difference in survival rate between higher (>40%) and lower (<40%) E- cadherin expression groups; however, in tumors 3 cm or less, a significant difference was found between higher and lower E- cadherin expressions (p<0 .0001). Conclusions: Underexpression of E-cadherin is associated with poor differentiation and invasiveness in NSCLC. In patients with small NSCLC ( less than or equal to3 cm), higher E-cadherin expression (>40 %) significantly had a favorable prognosis.
Subjects
E-cadherin
lung cancer
LYMPH-NODE METASTASIS
ADHESION MOLECULES
CATENIN EXPRESSION
INVASIVENESS
SDGs
Type
journal article