I-Catenin Role and Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
This study aimed to reveal the role and altered immunohistochemical expression of α- catenin in oral squamous cell carcinoma progression in its three histopathological differentiations. Immunohistochemical method was used to stain 81 biopsy taken from 81 patients and 15 control sample from normal oral mucosa. α-catenin was detected with homogenous strong staining in 56.6%, 40%, 15% of well, moderately, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, respectively with p<0.05. the heterogenous slight staining appeared in 40%, 52%, 61.5% respectively with p<0.05. the loss of α-catenin is observed in oral squamous cell carcinoma progression. The appearance of α-catenin oral SCC and invasive carcinomas might suggest its role in tumor progression by influencing on APC to control β-catenin dissolution and transcriptional suppression of Wnt pathway in this type of carcinogenesis.
