The aim of this study was to establish the expression and localization of E-cadherin and -catenin in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) so that we could correlate the findings with prognostic-relevant histopathological variables. E-cadherin and -catenin expression in normal oral epithelia and in oral squamous cell carcinomas was examined immunohistochemically, and associations with histopathological differentiation and prognosis were then analyzed in 33 patients who had been operated on for OSCC. E-cadherin expression was found in (82%) of the squamous cells of well differentiated OSCC, (61%) of moderately differentiated and (39%) of poorly differentiated. E-cadherin expression was significantly associated with histological grade (p=0.000). No nuclear staining was detected. In (19.5%) of the cells E-cadherin localized in the cytoplasm, with no correlation to the histological grade (p=0.106). -Catenin expression was found in 87% of the squamous cells of well differentiated OSCC, 67% of moderately differentiated and 43% of poorly differentiated, the expression was significantly associated with histological grade (p=0.000). the nuclear -Catenin expression appeared in 3.3% of the cells and it was correlated to the histological grade (p=0.000). In (23.5%) of the cells -Catenin localized in the cytoplasm, with correlation to the histological grade (p=0.002). According to this study the expression of -catenin and E-cadherin were independent prognostic factors for histological grade. E-cadherin was closely linked to -catenin expression in OSCC (p=0.000) and to tumor differentiation. That reflects a structural association and the role of both in tumor progression.
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