Ryuichi Kaji

Correlation of E‐and P‐cadherin expression with differentiation grade and mode of invasion in gingival carcinoma

The expression pattern of two Ca2+‐dependent cell‐cell adhesion molecules, E‐and P‐cadherin (CD), in 25 primary gingival squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) was examined immunohistochemically. The occurrence of reduced‐type expression of both E‐and P‐CD increased significantly with the grade of carcinoma differentiation, culminating in a complete loss of P‐CD in poorly differentiated SCC. The occurrence of reduced‐type P‐CD expression also increased significantly with the mode of invasion, as was the case with E‐CD. Furthermore, no P‐CD molecules were detected in one of the six SCC having a diffuse, cord‐like invasion and in three of the six having a diffuse type of invasion. These findings suggest that the down‐regulation of these cell adhesion molecules closely correlates with the differentiation grade and mode of invasion of gingival SCC.