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. 2023 Jul-Sep;13(3):43-47.
doi: 10.4103/jwas.jwas_1_23. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Immunohistochemical Expression of E-Cadherin and β-Catenin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Akindayo Olufunto Akinyamoju  1 , Ahmed Oluwatoyin Lawal  1 , Akinyele Olumuyiwa Adisa  1 , Bukola Folasade Adeyemi  1 , Bamidele Kolude  1
Affiliations

Immunohistochemical Expression of E-Cadherin and β-Catenin in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Akindayo Olufunto Akinyamoju et al. J West Afr Coll Surg. 2023 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

Background: The E-cadherin/β-catenin protein complexes are actively involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Alterations in cadherin or catenin expression or function, play important roles in the development of invasive or metastatic phenotypes of cancers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and to compare this with their clinico-pathological parameters.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study to assess the immunohistochemical expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in 41 cases of OSCC. Data were analyzed using version 26 of SPSS software. Qualitative data were compared using chi-square statistics. Quantitative data were summarized using mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval and compared using a one-way analysis of variance test. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: Overall, 95.1% of the cases had positive membrane expression for E-cadherin, while cytoplasmic staining was seen in 90.2% cases. Positive nuclear staining was seen in 46.3% cases. There was a decrease in the percentage of cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of E-cadherin as the OSCC became more poorly differentiated (χ2 = 13.96, P = 0.016). Also, a decrease in the percentage of nuclear expression of β-catenin in poorly differentiated cases was seen. However, no statistically significant difference was seen in the expression of β-catenin between the different histologic grades (χ2 = 4.8, P = 0.4).

Conclusion: This study shows a reduction in the expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin as OSCC becomes less differentiated.

Keywords: E-cadherin; oral squamous cell carcinoma; β -catenin.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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