Loss of E-cadherin expression resulting from promoter hypermethylation in oral tongue carcinoma and its prognostic significance.

Background: E-cadherin is expressed on the surface of normal epithelial cells. Loss of E-cadherin expression has been found in cancers and is postulated to facilitate tumor cell dissociation and metastasis. This study evaluated the role of promoter dense methylation in the downregulation of E-cadherin expression in oral tongue carcinoma.