[Expression of E-cadherin in thyroid neoplastic tissues and its correlation with malignant and metastatic potential].

Cadherin is an Ca2+ dependent adhesion molecules, which contribute to cell-cell adhesion and maintenance of tissue structures. Its decrease or functional abnormality plays an important vole in cancer invasion and metastasis. We investigate the expression of E- cadherin in thyroid neoplasms (papillary cancer, follicular cancer, medullary cancer anaplastic cancer and follicular adenoma) and normal thyroid. The decrease of E-cadherin expression in thyroid cancer correlates with its malignancy and metastatic potentiality.