DIFFERENCES OF E-CADHERIN EXPRESSION LEVELS AND PATTERNS IN HUMAN LUNG-CANCER

Fifty-two lung carcinomas obtained at surgical resection were examined by immunofluorescence for their expression levels and patterns of the calcium-dependent intercellular adhesion molecule E-cadherin. In well -differentiated squamous cell and adenocarcinomas expression of E-cadh erin was confined to the lateral cell border, similar to the expressio n level and pattern of normal lung tissue. The E-cadherin level was re duced and the expression pattern was spotty or diffuse in moderately a nd poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and in small cell ca rcinomas of the lung. Also, most metastases resected had a reduced lev el and an altered pattern of E-cadherin expression. In contrast, no su ch correlation was found in adenocarcinomas of the lung. This indicate s that different cellular mechanisms are responsible in the progressio n of squamous cell carcinomas versus adenocarcinomas of the lung.