E-cadherin, beta-catenin and Snail immunoexpression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Vol. 58 No. 3, 2017

ROMANIAN JOURNAL of MORPHOLOGY and EMBRYOLOGY

Liliana Cercelaru, Alex Emilian Stepan, Claudiu Margaritescu, Andrei Osman, Ionelia-Carmen Popa, Mirela Marinela Florescu, Cristiana Eugenia Simionescu, Otilia Clara Margaritescu

E-cadherin, beta-catenin and Snail are important molecules involved in cellular adhesion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Loss of E-cadherin expression, nuclear relocation of beta-catenin and high expression of Snail are connected to tumor progression, rapid cell growth and metastasis. The aim of our study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of beta-catenin, E-cadherin and Snail, depending on clinico-morphological aspects of the laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Our results revealed variable E-cadherin, beta-catenin and Snail expression, depending on differentiation degree and tumor stage. These markers can be helpful in identifying the aggressive laryngeal squamous carcinomas.

Corresponding author: Alex Emilian Stepan, Lecturer, MD, PhD; e-mail: astepan76@yahoo.com

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