Immunomorphometric Study of E-caderin Expression in Malignant Skin Tumors

Objective: Cadherins are transmembrane glycoprotein molecules, which interact with the cytoskeleton and their role is in cell recognition, tissue morphogenesis and tumor suppression. Our aim is to evaluate cell adhesion behavior in the main forms of skin cancer.
Methods: Between 2003–2007, we made a retrospective study on 150 cases of skin biopsies of basal cell, squamous cell carcinomas and malignant melanomas. In the Laboratory of Pathology of the Clinical Emergency County Hospital Tîrgu Mureș, the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumoral tissues were studied with immunohistochemical (for E-cadherin) and morphometrical methods using a digital technique and statistical evaluation.
Results: Average percentages of immunopositive areas (APMIS) were obtained for both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, as well as for malignant melanoma. We showed a rising percentage of disorganization in the cell membrane, with decreased APMIS values, with the increasing degree of tumor malignancy evidenced by immunohistochemical reaction of cadherins.
Conclusion: Cell adhesion decreases with increasing malignancy in all three studied malignant tumors, especially in malignant melanomas.