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. 2023 Jul-Aug;13(4):486-494.
doi: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 May 31.

Cadherin switching in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A clinicopathological study

Ahmed Noaman Ali  1 , Shoukria Mohammed Ghoneim  1 , Esam Rashwan Ahmed  2 , Lubna Omar El-Farouk Abdel Salam  3 , Sanaa Mahmoud Anis Saleh  1
Affiliations

Cadherin switching in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A clinicopathological study

Ahmed Noaman Ali et al. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res. 2023 Jul-Aug.

Erratum in

Abstract

Background and aim: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide as it represents the sixth most common cancer. Numerous molecular mechanisms have been explained to regulate OSCC progression, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cadherin switching is the pivotal process that controls EMT in which E-cadherin reduces while N-cadherin elevates. This work aimed to clarify the role of cadherin switching in OSCC.

Material and methods: Thirty paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of OSCC including six cases with lymph node metastasis were subjected to immunohistochemical staining using antibodies against E&N-cadherins. Cell cultures were performed using OSCC cell lines (SCC-15/SCC-25) from the human tongue. F-12K medium (Kaighn's Modification of Ham's F12 Medium) was added as EMT inducing media. E&N-cadherin mRNA gene expression levels were detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results: Cadherin switching through N-cadherin elevation and E-cadherin reduction was evaluated at the histopathologic level in primary and metastatic OSCC as well as at the genetic level within OSCC cell culture. Cadherin switching showed a significant correlation between E&N-cadherins at different histopathological grades of OSCC and in metastatic OSCC. Moreover, the level of mRNA gene expression of E&N-cadherins in human 15 SCC and 25 SCC cell lines with EMT-inducing media exhibited a significant correlation.

Conclusions: Cadherin switching is a crucial event in the EMT process. It may be used as a significant tool in the study of OSCC progression. Cadherin switching plays a significant role in the invasion and metastasis of OSCC.

Keywords: Cadherin switching; Clinicopathological parameters; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Invasion; Metastasis; Oral squamous cell carcinoma.

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Figures

Image 1
Graphical abstract
Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Photomicrograph of peri-coronal normal epithelial tissue (A) H & E stained section x200. (B) anti- E cadherin stain reaction mainly localized at the basal and supra-basal cell layer. Avidin–biotin-complex (ABC) x200. (C) negative staining of normal epithelium by anti N-cadherin staining ABC x200.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
photomicrograph of OSCC in different grades of OSCC: (A, D, G) well differentiated OSCC. (B, E, H) moderately differentiated OSCC. (C, F, I) poorly differentiated OSCC. (A, B, C) H&E staining x100. (D, E, F) E-cadherin staining ABC x200. (G, H, I) N-cadherin staining ABC x200.
Fig. (3)
Fig. (3)
Correlation between cadherin switching and histopathological grades of OSCC.
Fig. (4)
Fig. (4)
Photomicrograph showing OSCC in lymphnodes (A) H & E staining x100. (B) E-cadherin staining ABC ×100 shows weak staining. (C, D) N-cadherin staining ABC ×100 shows intense staining.
Fig. (5)
Fig. (5)
E&N-cadherins gene expression in different OSCC cell cultures.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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