Background: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of E-cadherin (E-Cad) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its metastatic lymph nodes.
Methods: E-Cad expression was detected in 30 normal lung tissues , 61 cancerous tissues and 41 metastatic lymph nodes by immunohistochemical method.
Results: In all of the normal epithelial cells , expression of E-Cad was clearly evident on cell-cell boundaries. Abnormal expression rate of E-Cad in primary NSCLC and metastatic lymph nodes were 52. 46 % and 63. 41 % respectively , and no significant difference was found between the two groups ( P > 0. 05) . The abnormal E-Cad expression in lung cancer was closely related to the P-TNM stages , pathological grades and lymph node involvement ( P < 0. 001-0. 05) , but not to the histological classification of the cancer ( P > 0. 05) .
Conclusions: E-Cad might be a valuable marker in assessing biological behavior and metastatic potential of NSCLC.