Abstract:

Objective To investigate the expressions of ezrin, E-cadherin, paxillin and integrin β1 in skin squamous cell carcinoma （SCC） and their significance. Methods The expressions of ezrin, E-cadherin, paxillin and integrin β1 were immunohistochemically detected in tissue specimens from 30 patients with SCC and 10 normal human controls. Results The expression rates of ezrin and E-cadherin in normal human keratinocytes were significantly higher than those in SCC cells ［100.00% （10/10）vs. 56.67%（17/30）, χ2 = 6.42, P < 0.05; 100.00% （10/10） vs 13.33% （4/30）, χ2=24.76, P < 0.05］, while the expression rates of paxillin and integrin β1 in normal human keratinocytes were significantly lower than those in SCC cells ［0.00 vs. 70.00% （21/30）, χ2 = 14.74, P < 0.01; 10.00% （1/10） vs. 66.67% （20/30）, χ2 = 9.66, P < 0.05］. In SCC cells, there was a significant positive correlation between the expression of ezrin and E-cadherin（r = 0.52, P < 0.01）, but a negative correlation between the expression of paxillin and E-cadherin and between that of integrin β1 and E-cadherin （r = － 0.56, － 0.52 respectively, both P < 0.01）; no significant correlation was observed between the expression of ezrin and paxillin or integrin β1, or between the that of paxillin and integrin β1（r = 0.5, 0.24 and 0 respectively, all P > 0.05）. Conclusions The low expression of E-cadherin and high expression of paxillin and integrin β1 may synergistically promote the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells, while integrin β1 and E-cadherin may play an antagonistic role in the metastasis of SCC.

Key words: squamous cell carcinoma