ANALYSIS OF E-CADHERIN EXPRESSION IN A GROUP OF PRIMARY CUTANEOUS SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS

Andreea Calinescu; Cristian Scheau; Sabina Zurac; Roxana Ioana Nedelcu; Alice Brinzea; Gabriela Turcu; Anastasia Coman; Mihaela Antohe; Mihaela Balaban; Ionela Hulea; Razvan Andrei; Daniela Adriana Ion; Ioana Anca Badarau

doi:10.33695/rjcr.v2i2.33

Andreea Calinescu Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Cristian Scheau
Sabina Zurac
Roxana Ioana Nedelcu
Alice Brinzea
Gabriela Turcu
Anastasia Coman
Mihaela Antohe
Mihaela Balaban
Ionela Hulea
Razvan Andrei
Daniela Adriana Ion
Ioana Anca Badarau

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33695/rjcr.v2i2.33

Keywords: e-cadherin, squamous cell carcinoma, cancer progression, invasive front

Abstract

E-cadherin is an adhesion molecule essential in maintaining cellular integrity and preserving normal epithelial tissue architecture in adult organisms. Loss of E-cadherin expression and epithelial characteristics has been described in the late stages of carcinogenesis in various human cancers. By loosing cell-cell adhesion mediated by E-cadherin and acquiring mesenchymal properties, a process reffered to as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), carcinoma cells become more motile and invasive, thus being able to penetrate the surrounding stroma. Our aim is to investigate E-cadherin expression, part of the EMT phenomenom, in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs), knowing that it represents a valuable model for understanding cancer progression. We conducted a retrospective study, performing immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin and analyzing its expression in 32 cases of primary cSCCs. E-cadherin membrane positivity was assessed in cells from the main tumor and cells from the invasion front and described in terms of percentage of positive tumoral cells and in terms of intensity. Statistycal analysis showed the proportion of E-Cadherin positive cells in the tumor central and superficial areas is lower in higher degrees of anaplasia (marginally significant p=0.07), confirming the higher potential of poor outcome in these tumors. Median intensity and proportion values of E-Cadherin positive cells were significantly higher in the tumor central and superficial areas than in the invasion front (p<0.0001), suggesting that loss of epithelial features portends higher potential of invasion and metastasis in the setting of EMT. Further studies are required in order to establish clear correlations.

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