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Cytoplasmic accumulation of α‐catenin is associated with aggressive features in laryngeal squamous‐cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Hirvikoski Pasi,
Kumpulainen Eero J.,
Virtaniemi Jukka A.,
Helin Heikki J.,
Rantala Immo,
Johansson Risto T.,
Juhola Matti,
Kosma VeliMatti
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19981023)79:5<546::aid-ijc18>3.0.co;2-#
Subject(s) - pathology , cytoplasm , staining , carcinoma , biology , immunohistochemistry , cadherin , catenin , laryngeal neoplasm , alpha (finance) , cell , medicine , wnt signaling pathway , gene , biochemistry , genetics , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction
Aberrations in the function of α‐catenin (α‐cat), the anchoring protein of E‐cadherin, are believed to cause dysfunction of the cadherin–catenin complex, leading to disturbed cell–cell adhesion. It has been suggested that expression of α‐cat in human tumours might be a better indicator of aggressive phenotype than expression of E‐cadherin. The value of α‐cat as a prognostic marker in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is unclear. To determine the potential prognostic significance of α‐cat, paraffin‐embedded samples from 159 patients with invasive carcinoma left in the section and with long‐term follow‐up were evaluated immuno‐histochemically for α‐cat expression, and the results were related to histopathological grade, tumour stage and survival. Two patterns of staining were observed: pure membranous staining (57%) and membranous staining with cytoplasmic involvement (43%). Cytoplasmic involvement of α‐cat was associated with dedifferentiation, advanced tumour stage and nodal status. In addition, supra‐glottic tumours showed more often cytoplasmic involvement of α‐cat than glottic tumours. Patients with cytoplasmic involvement appeared to have a trend towards poor overall survival, though without statistical significance. These results suggest that cytoplasmic involvement of α‐cat is associated with aggressive behaviour and metastatic phenotype of LSCC. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 79:546–550, 1998.© 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.