E-CADHERIN EXPRESSION IN BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA

E-cadherin (E-CD) is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule w hich is expressed in almost all epithelial tissues. E-CD expression is involved in epidermal morphogenesis and is reduced during tumour prog ression of mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that E-CD could play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule. In the pres ent work we have studied the E-CD expression in 31 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using an immunohistochemical technique with a mo noclonal antibody (HECD-1) specific for human E-CD. E-CD expression wa s preserved in all specimens of superficial and nodular BCC, and was r educed in 10 of 15 infiltrative BCCs. A heterogeneous distribution of cells with different immunostaining intensity was more frequently obse rved in specimens of infiltrative BCC. These results suggest that E-CD might be related to the growth pattern and the local aggressive behav iour of BCC, and support the idea that E-CD might play a role as an in vasion-suppressor molecule in vivo.