Altered expression of desmocollin 3, desmoglein 3, and beta-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinoma: correlation with lymph node metastasis and cell proliferation

作者：Wang Lihong^*; Liu Tingjiao; Wang Yao; Cao Lei; Nishioka Mai; Aguirre Rodelio L; Ishikawa Ayataka; Geng Li; Okada Norihiko

来源：Virchows Archiv, 2007, 451(5): 959-966.

DOI：10.1007/s00428-007-0485-5

• oral squamous cell carcinoma
• desmosomal cadherins
• beta-catenin
• lymph node metastasis
• cell proliferation

Desmocollin 3 (Dsc3) and desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) are both transmembrane glycoproteins that belong to the cadherin family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules. beta-Catenin is a member of the cadherin-catenin complex that mediates homotypic cell-cell adhesion and is also an important molecule in the wnt signaling pathway. In this study, we examined the simultaneous expression level of Dsc3, Dsg3, and beta-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) and normal oral epithelia using immunohistochemistry. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) among the following variables in OSCCs: reduced or loss of expression of Dsc3, Dsg3, and beta-catenin compared to normal oral epithelium, reduced or loss of expression of Dsc3 and histological grade (moderately or poorly differentiated), and reduced or loss of expression of beta-catenin and lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between reduced or loss of beta-catenin staining and reduced or loss of Dsc3 staining in lymph node metastatic cancer tissue (r=0.734, p < 0.05). These results suggest an abnormal expression of Dsc3, Dsg3, and beta-catenin induced in the progression of oral carcinomas and that the Dsc3 expression level might be related to the regulation of beta-catenin in lymph node metastasis and cell proliferation in OSCCs.

• 出版日期2007-11
• 单位大连医科大学; 东北大学