Resumen

MARTINEZ, A et al. E-cadherin and c-Met expression in actinic cheilits and lip squamous cell carcinoma. Rev. Clin. Periodoncia Implantol. Rehabil. Oral [online]. 2011, vol.4, n.3, pp. 122-125. ISSN 0719-0107.  doi: 10.4067/S0719-01072011000300008.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess epithelial expression of E-cadherin and c-Met in normal lip, in actinic cheilitis and lip squamous cell carcinoma. Study Design: Biopsies of normal lip vermillion (NL, n=18), actinic cheilitis (AC, n=37), and lip SCC (n=22) were processed for E-cadherin and c-Met immunodetection. Epithelial and tumor cell expression was scored for each sample considering staining intensity and percentage. Results: E-cadherin expression was significantly reduced in AC and lip SCC as compared to normal lip (P<0.05), with a significant reduction in lip SCC as compared to AC (P=0.003). Expression of c-Met was significantly higher in AC and lip SCC as compared to NL (P<0.05), with a significant increase in lip SCC as compared to AC (P<0.0001). Conclusion: The results showed that epithelial E-cadherin expression is reduced and c-Met expression is increased as lip carcinogenesis progresses, suggesting that these proteins may be useful markers of malignant transformation.

Palabras clave : E-cadherin; c-Met; lip carcinogenesis; UV light; actinic cheilitis; lip squamous cell carcinoma.