Cai Zhi-gang, Shi Xiao-jian, Gao Yan, Wei Ming-jie, Wang Cun-yu, Yu Guang-yan
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
Chin Med J (Engl). 2008 Oct 5;121(19):1866-70.
Beta-catenin, a 92 kDa protein that binds to the cytoplasmic tail of E-cadherin, has an essential role in intercellular adhesion and signal transduction. Aberrant expression of beta-catenin has been associated with progression and metastasis of various human cancers. The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression pattern of beta-catenin in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma and examine the correlation between beta-catenin expression and tumor differentiation, histological grade and lymph node status as well as its clinical significances.
Seventy-six patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and sixteen metastatic lymph nodes were studied. The beta-catenin expression was determined by immunohistochemical staining. The correlation with clinical, histological data was analyzed statistically.
Normal oral epithelium showed strong beta-catenin expression at the cell membrane, but no cytoplasmic or nuclear expression. Different degrees of reduced expression of beta-catenin at the cell membrane were found in 54 cases with squamous cell carcinoma (71%). Cytoplasmic beta-catenin expression was found in 17 tumors (22.4%). Three cases were found with nuclear beta-catenin expression. In sixteen lymph nodes with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, negative beta-catenin expression at the cell membrane was seen in 13 tumors (81.2%) and weak expression in 3 tumors (18.8%). Statistical analysis showed that there was an inverse correlation between beta-catenin expression and lymph node status and histological grade of tumors.
Reduced beta-catenin expression at the cell membrane is clearly associated with lymph node metastasis. A reduced expression of beta-catenin may constitute a hallmark of aggressive biological behavior of squamous cell carcinoma.
β-连环蛋白是一种92 kDa的蛋白质，可与E-钙黏蛋白的细胞质尾部结合，在细胞间黏附和信号转导中起重要作用。β-连环蛋白的异常表达与多种人类癌症的进展和转移相关。本研究的目的是阐明β-连环蛋白在原发性口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达模式，并探讨β-连环蛋白表达与肿瘤分化、组织学分级、淋巴结状态及其临床意义之间的相关性。
对76例口腔鳞状细胞癌患者和16个转移性淋巴结进行研究。通过免疫组织化学染色测定β-连环蛋白的表达。对临床、组织学数据的相关性进行统计学分析。
正常口腔上皮细胞膜显示β-连环蛋白强表达，但无细胞质或细胞核表达。54例鳞状细胞癌患者（71%）出现不同程度的细胞膜β-连环蛋白表达降低。17个肿瘤（22.4%）发现有细胞质β-连环蛋白表达。3例发现有细胞核β-连环蛋白表达。在16个转移性鳞状细胞癌淋巴结中，13个肿瘤（81.2%）细胞膜β-连环蛋白表达阴性，3个肿瘤（18.8%）表达弱阳性。统计学分析表明，β-连环蛋白表达与肿瘤的淋巴结状态和组织学分级呈负相关。
细胞膜β-连环蛋白表达降低与淋巴结转移明显相关。β-连环蛋白表达降低可能构成鳞状细胞癌侵袭性生物学行为的一个标志。
