Localization and level of expression of beta-catenin in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: We studied the participation of beta-catenin in the histologic differentiation of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Study Design And Setting: At the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, a tertiary referral center, localization and level of expression of beta-catenin were compared between normal epithelium (15 cases) and primary tumors in different degrees of differentiation (38 cases), using an immunohistochemical procedure.

Results: Cell membrane staining of beta-catenin was observed in normal epithelium and in well and moderately differentiated carcinomas.