E-cadherin/catenin complex modulations in human oral cancer

Abstract

Oral cancer is a common neoplasm in both male and female worldwide; the incidence and mortality of this cancer have increased over the past decades. Cancer metastasis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in oral cancer patients, which is associated with the translocation of tumor cells from the initial neoplastic focus into neighboring host tissues. The E-cadherin/catenin complex plays an important role in maintaining epithelial integrity, thus disrupting this complex affect several signaling pathways including Wnt as well as the adhesive repertoire and consequently incites motility and invasion. Aberrant expression patterns of the E-cadherin/catenin complex are associated with a wide variety of human malignancies including oral cancer resulting from epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this chapter we will overview the clinical description of oral metastatic cancer; furthermore, we will discuss the role of E-cadherin/catenin complex and its signaling pathways as well as EMT in the progression of this cancer.