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. 1994 Jan;69(1):157–162. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1994.26

E-cadherin expression in basal cell carcinoma.

A Pizarro 1, N Benito 1, P Navarro 1, J Palacios 1, A Cano 1, M Quintanilla 1, F Contreras 1, C Gamallo 1
PMCID: PMC1968779  PMID: 8286199

Abstract

E-cadherin (E-CD) is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule which is expressed in almost all epithelial tissues. E-CD expression is involved in epidermal morphogenesis and is reduced during tumour progression of mouse epidermal carcinogenesis. It has been suggested that E-CD could play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule. In the present work we have studied the E-CD expression in 31 patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) using an immunohistochemical technique with a monoclonal antibody (HECD-1) specific for human E-CD. E-CD expression was preserved in all specimens of superficial and nodular BCC, and was reduced in 10 of 15 infiltrative BCCs. A heterogeneous distribution of cells with different immunostaining intensity was more frequently observed in specimens of infiltrative BCC. These results suggest that E-CD might be related to the growth pattern and the local aggressive behaviour of BCC, and support the idea that E-CD might play a role as an invasion-suppressor molecule in vivo.

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Selected References

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