Expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin in epithelial odontogenic tumors: an immunohistochemical study

To clarify the possible role of cell adhesion in epithelial odontogenic tum ors, expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin was examined by an immunohi stochemical method. These molecules showed pericellular distribution in epi thelial cells of the tooth germ and its derived tumors. In ameloblastomas, E-cadherin and alpha-catenin were expressed strongly in central polyhedral cells and slightly in peripheral columnar cells. These features resembled t hose of epithelial components in the tooth germ tissues, retaining cytodiff erentiation of odontogenic epithelium. Expression of the molecules in the v ariants of ameloblastomas showed loss in the keratinizing areas and reducti on in the granular cell clusters, suggesting terminal differentiation of th e tumor cells. Calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors and a clear cell od ontogenic tumor preserved E-cadherin and alpha-catenin expression without a specific feature for histogenesis or cytodifferentiation. One case of two malignant ameloblastomas shelved prominent reduction in expression of E-cad herin and alpha-catenin.