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Changing expression of E‐ and P‐cadherin during rat tongue carcinogenesis induced by 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide
Author(s) -
Sakaki Toshio,
Tamura Isao,
Kadota Hidetaka,
Kakudo Kenji
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0714.2003.00174.x
Subject(s) - 4 nitroquinoline 1 oxide , carcinogenesis , cadherin , epithelium , pathology , biology , cell , cancer research , cell adhesion molecule , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer , medicine , immunology , genetics
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) develops from pre‐malignant lesions, but the role of cell adhesion molecules such as E‐cadherin (E‐CD) and P‐cadherin (P‐CD) in the pre‐malignant stage has not been elucidated. Methods: The expression of E‐CD and P‐CD was examined immunohistochemically and biochemically in a 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide (4NQO)‐induced rat model of carcinogenesis. Results: The expression of E‐CD in the pre‐malignant stage was the same as that in the normal epithelium. The expression of P‐CD was even throughout the prickle cell layer in the dysplasia stage. E‐CD and P‐CD were expressed in essentially the same locations in SCC and in the pre‐malignant stage. P‐CD expression was very strong in the pre‐malignant stage, compared to that in normal epithelium. Conclusions: Aberrant P‐CD expression in E‐CD‐positive cells may play a crucial role in the progression of the pre‐malignant stage of 4NQO‐induced carcinogenesis, and may activate mechanisms responsible for cell proliferation.