The role of E-cadherin expression in non-small cell lung cancer

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of E-cad herin expression in lung cancer. E-cadherin expression was detected by immu nohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody (HECD-1). Strongly positive (+) E-cadherin tumors were classified as a type of preserved E-cadherin expr ession (Pr type), while the others (+, - tumors) were classified as a type of reduced E-cadherin expression (Rd type). The frequency of Pr type in squ amous cell carcinomas (59.0%) was higher than Rd type. However, in adenocar cinomas, the frequency of Rd type was higher than Pr type. E-cadherin expre ssion pattern was significantly correlated with differentiated state (Pears on correlation coefficient 0.394, p<0.001). E-cadherin expression of well-d ifferentiated tumors was more frequently preserved than that of poorly diff erentiated tumors (60.0% vs. 25.9%). With regard to the correlation between E-cadherin expression and stages of lymph node metastasis in non-small cel l lung cancers, the percentage of tumors with Pr type E-cadherin expression declined from 66.3% (<less than or equal to>N1) to 38.6% (greater than or equal to N2), indicating that loss of E-cadherin expression is responsible for acquisition of invasive potential of lung cancer as well as the possibl e role of E-cadherin in the histological differentiation of lung cancer.