REDUCED E-CADHERIN EXPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED LYMPH-NODEMETASTASIS AND UNFAVORABLE PROGNOSIS IN NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER

E-cadherin is a calcium-dependent, epithelial cell adhesion molecule w hose reduced expression has been associated with tumor dedifferentiati on and increased lymph node metastasis in clinical studies involving s everal carcinomas. In this study, 111 patients who had previously unde rgone complete resection and systematic mediastinal lymph node dissect ion for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were studied retrospectivel y. In the primary tumor, as well as in the lymph node metastases, E-ca dherin expression was detected by immunohistochemistry using a monoclo nal antibody (HECD-1; Takara, Otsu, japan). There was a significant in verse correlation between E-cadherin expression and lymph node stage ( Pearson correlation coefficient -0.52, p = 0.0001) as well as tumor di fferentiation (Pearson correlation coefficient -0.27, p = 0.005). More over, Kaplan and Meier survival estimates showed a significant correla tion between E-cadherin expression and patient survival in log rank te sting (p = 0.006). In the patient group with the highest proportion of E-cadherin positive tumor cells, 60% of the patients were still estim ated to be alive at 36 mo, versus 32% of the patients in the group cla ssified as showing negative E-cadherin expression. Our findings provid e clinical evidence that reduced E-cadherin expression is associated w ith tumor dedifferentiation, increased lymphogenous metastasis and poo r survival. It seems therefore that E-cadherin expression might be an important prognostic factor in NSCLC.