IMMUNOLOCALIZATION OF E-CADHERIN IN HUMAN HEAD AND NECK-CANCER

Loss of expression of the cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin has b een shown to have a potential role in the dedifferentiation and progre ssion of many human malignancies. We applied immunohistochemical stain ing for E-cadherin to eight formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary and matched metastatic human head and neck carcinomas. In tumors that contained both well-differentiated and poorly differentiated component s, staining was notably reduced in the poorly differentiated cells. St aining was nearly identical or only slightly reduced in metastases com pared to primary tumors. As found in previous reports, E-cadherin expr ession may be involved in the dedifferentiation of these tumors.