Frequent loss of E-cadherin and/or catenins in intrabronchial lesions during carcinogenesis of the bronchial epithelium

Summary Inactivation of the cadherin-mediated cell–cell adhesion system is believed to play a role in the initial steps of cancer invasion and metastasis. Expression of E-cadherin and its intracytoplasmic binding molecules (α-catenin, β-catenin, and plakoglobin) was examined immunohistochemically in 84 cases of intrabronchial precancerous lesions (bronchial squamous metaplasia (BSM) without atypia, BSM with atypia, dysplasia), and 21 cases of carcinoma in situ, and 4 cases of microinvasion to the bronchial wall, and 32 cases of stage I well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) to investigate the association between expression of E-cadherin and/or catenins and cancer progression. Reduced expression of E-cadherin and/or catenins was closely correlated with an atypical grade of dysplasia in the basal layer ( p p