Expression of desmoglein I in squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus

Abstract

Desmoglein I (DGI) is major component of the desmosomal membrane core that plays an important role in epithelial cell adhesion. The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between the expression of DGI and the clinicopathological findings of esophageal cancer. DGI expression was immunohistochemically examined using an anti-DGI monoclonal antibody in 139 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Normal squamous epithelial cells strongly expressed DGI at their cell-cell boundaries. According to the intensity and pattern of DGI expression, the cancerous tissues were divided into three groups: DGI (++), DGI (+), and DGI (-). Of the 139 tumors, 35 (25%) were DGI (++), 65 (47%) were DGI (+), and 39 (28%) were DGI (-). A good inverse correlation between DGI expression and tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and vessel invasion was observed. These results indicate that DGI expression may be a significant factor for invasion, metastasis, and prognosis of human esophageal cancer.

So-Called Carcinosarcoma of the Esophagus: A Clinicopathologic, Immunohistochemical and DNA Flow-Cytometric Analysis of 6 Cases

“…Although keratin expression is found in normal squamous cell epithelium and in squamous cell carcinoma, it was not found in the cells of the sarcomatous components of our tumors. The same findings were obtained by the antibodies for epithelial membranous antigen, and by the antibodies for the cell-cell adhesion molecules thrombomodulin [14, 15]and desmosomal glycoprotein 1 [16, 17]. On the other hand, vimentin, a mesenchymal marker, was found in 5 of the 6 tumors.…”

“…Since thrombomodulin was also expressed in the squamous epithelium mainly at intercellular bridges, it is thought to be one of the cell-cell adhesion molecules [14, 15]. Desmosomal glycoprotein 1 is the major glycoprotein component of the membrane core domain of desmosomes which are intercellular junctions in epithelial cell adhesion [16, 17]. Staining results were evaluated by calculating the percentage of positively stained neoplastic cells.…”

Pemphigus foliaceus associated with oesophageal cancer

“…In non‐lesional oesophageal mucosal epithelium, DIF studies showed IgG and C3 depositions in the intercellular space, as could be predicted from the known fact that both Dsg3 and Dsg1 are expressed in mucosal epithelium in the oesophagus. Whereas, in cells of SCC, the expression of Dsg1 is markedly reduced or absent, 8,9 in our case, there was some reduced level of deposition in the tumour cells of oesophageal cancer compared with the skin or normal oesophageal membrane.…”

Molecular factors related to metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

“…A strong inverse correlation has been found between DG1 expression and tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and vascular invasion [23].…”