Study of E-Cadherin Expression in Normal Oral Mucosa in Oral Precancerous Lesions and in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Abstract

BACKGROUNDOral cancer is the 11 th most common cancer in the world, and death due to this, ranks 6 th globally. India has the highest incidence of oral cancer globally and accounts for approximately 30-40% of all other cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly encountered malignancy of the oral cavity. The most important prognostic factor for patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is metastasis to cervical lymph nodes or distant organs. METHODSThis study was carried out among patients attending ENT OPD in LLR Hospital attached to G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur. A detailed clinical history of present illness including relevant past history was recorded and a complete general examination was done. A total of 100 cases diagnosed in histopathology laboratory between July 2017 and August 2019 were included. Expression of E-cadherin was evaluated in normal oral mucosa, oral premalignant lesions and oral squamous cell carcinomas and was correlated with pathological grade. RESULTSThere was male preponderance with a male to female ratio of 4.5:1. Maximum cases of oral lesions were encountered in fourth and fifth decades of life. Majority of the cases were tobacco users (85%). CONCLUSIONSCorrelation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma cases with the expression of intensity of staining with E-Cadherin was found to be significant with p<0.05. There was significant variation of expression of E-cadherin with histopathological dysplasia of the oral precancerous lesions and the tumour differentiation of the oral cancers in comparison with normal oral mucosa. However, there was no correlation between degree of loss of expression of E-cadherin with the degree of dysplasia or the tumour differentiation of oral cancers. There was a variation in the expression of E-cadherin, but its value as a prognostic marker is questionable for which a longitudinal study with larger sample size is required to confirm this conclusion.

Immunohistochemical Expression Of E-Cadherin In Various Grades Of Oral Epithelial Dysplasia And Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…Yuwanati et al in 2011, and Kaur et al in 2009 and Monica et al in 2014 were they also concluded the reduced intensity of E-Cad with the severity of grades of OSCC (12,17,18,13). Sridevi et al in 2015, studied and found decreased E-cadherin expression in dysplastic layer of epithelium which was in accordance with our study were mild membranous staining of E-cadherin in suprabasal and spinous layer of cells were observed (8).…”

“…( 16) E-cadherin is one such tumour marker which plays an important role in epithelial cell adhesion, suppression of E-Cad is mainly responsible for dysfunction of cell-cell adhesion and total loss of its function leads to cancer progression. (15,12) E-cad express are also studied in various carcinomas of head and neck region, prostrate, esophagus, pancreas and cervix. (8) In the present study, it was observed that there was decreased E-cad expression in Oral OED with increase in grades of dysplasia and decreased expression of E-cad was also observed in OSCC when compared to normal epithelium.…”

“…The balancing mechanism between cellular adhesion and motility is responsible for tumor initiation and progression, Cell-cell adhesion plays a vital role which is promoted by Ecadherin/β-catenin complexes. (11,12,13) E-cadherin is a important tumor suppressor gene and cell adhesion molecules, which are encoded by CDH1 gene located on the chromosome 16q21, and which reported to have a major role in establishing cell polarity and to maintain the normal tissue architecture. Decreased or loss of expression of E-cadherin /catenin complex has been reported to one of the factor in cancer progression.…”