Association of E-cadherin with epidermal growth factor receptor in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity

Abstract

Oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. Despite new modalities of treatment there has been no significant improvement in mortality and morbidity. E-cadherin responsible for cell-cell adhesion in epithelial tissues. It plays role in establishment and maintenance of polarity and structural integrity. Low expression helps in process of carcinogenesis. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is found in majority of oral squamous cell carcinoma and association have been made between increased expression levels and an aggressive phenotype.To study the association of E-cadherin with epidermal growth factor receptor in different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma.After taking informed consent from patients 75 cases of OSCC were included in the study and subjected to immunohistochemistry of E-cadherin and EGFR.It was concluded from the study that with decrease in differentiation of OSCC expression of E- cadherin decrease while expression of EGFR increases. On correlating both were found to be inversely proportional to each other.During EMT there is loss of cell adhesion molecules. In our study with decrease differentiation there is loss of E-cadherin. E-Cadherin expression was inversely correlated to EGFR expression.