alpha-catenin is a significant prognostic factor than E-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to analyze clinicopathologic variables in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) according to expression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin which play an important role in cell adhesion.

METHODS: We immunohistochemically examined E-cadherin and alpha-catenin in 205 patients with ESCC. The expression results were classified into two groups: preserved expression (+) and reduced expression (-).

RESULTS: The incidence of E-cadherin (-) and alpha-catenin (-) was 52% and 54%, respectively and significantly related each other. For both E-cadherin and alpha-catenin, reduced expression was significantly related to tumor depth, nodal metastasis, stage, recurrence, and prognosis. In the E-cadherin (+) group, the alpha-catenin (+) and alpha-catenin (-) patients differed significantly in tumor depth, nodal metastasis, stage, hematogenous and lymphatic recurrences (P < 0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001 and =0.007, respectively). According to coexpression of E-cadherin and alpha-catenin, the prognosis was best in patients with E-cadherin (+) and alpha-catenin (+), and worst in patients with E-cadherin (-) and alpha-catenin (-). Multivariate analysis revealed that alpha-catenin expression was an independent prognostic factor.

CONCLUSIONS: The examination of expression of E-cadherin and especially alpha-catenin is useful for predicting lymph node metastasis and clinical outcome of ESCC.