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Original Article
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Loss of E-cadherin expression resulting from promoter hypermethylation in oral tongue carcinoma and its prognostic significance
Article first published online: 18 JAN 2002
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.10211
Copyright © 2002 American Cancer Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Chang, H. W., Chow, V., Lam, K. Y., Wei, W. I. and Wing Yuen, A. P. (2002), Loss of E-cadherin expression resulting from promoter hypermethylation in oral tongue carcinoma and its prognostic significance. Cancer, 94: 386–392. doi: 10.1002/cncr.10211
Publication History
- Issue published online: 18 JAN 2002
- Article first published online: 18 JAN 2002
- Manuscript Accepted: 24 SEP 2001
- Manuscript Revised: 29 AUG 2001
- Manuscript Received: 21 MAY 2001
Funded by
- Kadoorie Cancer Research Fund
- The University of Hong Kong
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- tongue carcinoma;
- hypermethylation;
- methylation;
- E-cadherin
This study evaluated the role of promoter dense methylation in the downregulation of E-cadherin expression in oral tongue carcinoma.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
E-cadherin is expressed on the surface of normal epithelial cells. Loss of E-cadherin expression has been found in cancers and is postulated to facilitate tumor cell dissociation and metastasis. This study evaluated the role of promoter dense methylation in the downregulation of E-cadherin expression in oral tongue carcinoma.
METHODS
E-cadherin expression of 109 oral tongue carcinomas (93 primary tumors, 7 locally recurrent tumors, and 9 metastatic lymph nodes) was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissues. The methylation status of the CpG islands at the promoter region of E-cadherin which flanked five HpaII (methylation sensitive restriction enzyme) digestion sites were evaluated by methylation sensitive polymerase chain reaction in 86 tumors (70 primary tumors, 7 locally recurrent tumors, and 9 metastatic lymph nodes).
RESULTS
Underexpression of E-cadherin was found in 83% of primary tumors, 86% of recurrent tumors, and 89% of nodal metastases. Hypermethylated E-cadherin promoter was found in 64% of primary tumors, 71% of recurrent tumors, and 67% of nodal metastases. Downregulation of E-cadherin expression was found to be related to promoter hypermethylation. Consistently weak expression of E-cadherin by promoter hypermethylation was observed in primary tumors, their corresponding metastatic lymph nodes, and recurrent tumors. Downregulation of E-cadherin expression was a significant poor prognostic factor for survival.
CONCLUSIONS
Methylation of CpG sites at the promoter region played a key role in the inhibition of E-cadherin expression in both primary oral tongue carcinomas and their corresponding recurrences and nodal metastases. The resulting downregulation of E-cadherin expression had adverse effects on the prognosis of patients who were treated by primary surgery. Cancer 2002;94:386–92. © 2002 American Cancer Society.