Differential expression of D2-40 and E-Cadherin in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Introduction: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) arise in the oral cavity, oropharyinx, larynx, hypopharynx and is the fifth leading cancer by incidence worldwide. No data are available about D2-40 expression discordances between basal cells of normal epithelium from different regions of head and neck and D2-40 differential expression in different subtypes of HNSCCs. Less studied in HNSCCs, E cadherins are involved in the tumour cell detachment from the primary tumour and basement membrane invasion. The aim of this work was to study D2-40 and E-cadherin expression in the tumor cells of HNSCCs with different localization. Methods: We included in the study 32 biopsies from patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (well, moderate and poorly differentiated) from the larynx (14), pharynx (11), tongue base (2), lower lip (2), hard palate (1), gingival sulcus (1), nasal fossa (1). The immunoreaction for D2-40 and E- cadherin in the tumor cells was evaluated according with the following score: 0 (0% positive cells), 1 (30%). Results: We found no D2-40 expression in tumor cells of poorly differentiated HNSCC. The maximum value of score- 3 was found in both moderately and well differentiated carcinoma of the tongue, and the value 1 of score was noticed in well and moderately differentiated laryngeal carcinoma. The value 3 of score for E- cadherin was showed in well differentiated squamous carcinoma of the tongue, larynx, lower lip, nasal fossa, hard palate. The alternance of areas without and reduced expression of E- cadherin was noticed in poorly differentiated carcinoma. Conclusions: D2-40/E-cadherin association may be a potential phenotype for aggressiveness in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenkonflikt an