Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: According to the literature, high levels of salivary soluble E-cadherin may be lined to advanced stage and poor prognosis in cancers. This research aimed at comparing salivary and serum levels of soluble E-cadherin in cases with esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers.
METHODS: This case-control research was performed on 68 patients with gastrointestinal cancers and 57 healthy volunteers as a control group to measure salivary and serum levels of soluble E-cadherin using ELISA kits.
RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant difference between salivary and serum levels of soluble E-cadherin in the case group, as opposed to the control group (P = 0.031). The salivary level of soluble E-cadherin in the control group was 2.138 ng/mL on average lower than that that in the case group. The median salivary level of soluble E-cadherin among cases with lymph node involvement was significantly higher compared with its median level in the control group (P = 0.049). Soluble E-cadherin salivary level and other variables, such as metastasis and cancer stage, were directly correlated, but it was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings, the salivary level of soluble E-cadherin among cases with gastric cancer could be considered as a prognostic marker, but the diagnostic value of saliva could not be judged in esophageal and colorectal cancers because of small sample size, and more investigations are required for a definite conclusion.
METHODS: This case-control research was performed on 68 patients with gastrointestinal cancers and 57 healthy volunteers as a control group to measure salivary and serum levels of soluble E-cadherin using ELISA kits.
RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant difference between salivary and serum levels of soluble E-cadherin in the case group, as opposed to the control group (P = 0.031). The salivary level of soluble E-cadherin in the control group was 2.138 ng/mL on average lower than that that in the case group. The median salivary level of soluble E-cadherin among cases with lymph node involvement was significantly higher compared with its median level in the control group (P = 0.049). Soluble E-cadherin salivary level and other variables, such as metastasis and cancer stage, were directly correlated, but it was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS: According to the findings, the salivary level of soluble E-cadherin among cases with gastric cancer could be considered as a prognostic marker, but the diagnostic value of saliva could not be judged in esophageal and colorectal cancers because of small sample size, and more investigations are required for a definite conclusion.
摘要：
目的：根据文献，高水平的唾液可溶性E-cadherin可能与癌症的晚期和不良预后有关。这项研究旨在比较食管患者唾液和血清中可溶性E-cadherin的水平，胃,和大肠癌。
方法：本病例对照研究以68例胃肠道肿瘤患者和57例健康志愿者为对照组，采用ELISA试剂盒测定唾液和血清可溶性E-cadherin水平。
结果：结果显示，病例组中唾液和血清可溶性E-cadherin水平之间存在统计学上的显着差异，对照组(P=0.031)。对照组的唾液可溶性E-cadherin水平平均为2.138ng/mL，低于病例组。与对照组相比，淋巴结受累患者的唾液可溶性E-cadherin的中位数水平明显高于对照组（P=0.049）。可溶性E-cadherin唾液水平和其他变量，如转移和癌症分期，是直接相关的，但没有统计学意义。
结论：根据调查结果，在胃癌患者中，唾液中可溶性E-cadherin的水平可以被认为是预后标志物。但由于样本量小，无法判断唾液在食管癌和结直肠癌中的诊断价值，需要更多的调查才能得出明确的结论。
方法：本病例对照研究以68例胃肠道肿瘤患者和57例健康志愿者为对照组，采用ELISA试剂盒测定唾液和血清可溶性E-cadherin水平。
结果：结果显示，病例组中唾液和血清可溶性E-cadherin水平之间存在统计学上的显着差异，对照组(P=0.031)。对照组的唾液可溶性E-cadherin水平平均为2.138ng/mL，低于病例组。与对照组相比，淋巴结受累患者的唾液可溶性E-cadherin的中位数水平明显高于对照组（P=0.049）。可溶性E-cadherin唾液水平和其他变量，如转移和癌症分期，是直接相关的，但没有统计学意义。
结论：根据调查结果，在胃癌患者中，唾液中可溶性E-cadherin的水平可以被认为是预后标志物。但由于样本量小，无法判断唾液在食管癌和结直肠癌中的诊断价值，需要更多的调查才能得出明确的结论。
