Tumor-specific genetic expression profile of metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Metastasis is the most important predictor of survival in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We tested the hypothesis that there is a genetic expression profile associated with OSCC metastasis. METHODS: We obtained samples from 6 OSCC node-positive primary tumors and their matched metastatic lymph nodes, and 5 OSCC node-negative primary tumors. Using laser capture microdissection, we isolated OSCC cells from metastatic lymph nodes and compared them with those from matched primary tumors and unmatched node-negative primary tumors using Affymetrix Human Genome Focus arrays. RESULTS: Comparison of tumor cells from the lymph nodes with those from the unmatched, node-negative primary tumors revealed differential expression of 160 genes. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis using this 160-gene set showed that the node-negative samples were distinguishable from both, node-positive primary tumors and tumors in the lymph nodes. Many of the expression changes found in the metastatic cells from the lymph nodes were also found in the node-positive primary tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis for transglutaminase-3 and keratin 16 confirmed the differential genetic expression for these genes. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results suggest that there may be a metastatic gene expression profile present in node-positive primary OSCC.     

In vivo autofluorescence spectroscopy of oral premalignant and malignant lesions: distortion of fluorescence intensity by submucous fibrosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To test whether autofluorescence spectroscopy can be used for the diagnosis of oral neoplasia in a high-risk population, we characterized the in vivo autofluorescence spectra from oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) lesions and oral premalignant and malignant lesions in both OSF and non-OSF patients. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Autofluorescence emission spectra were measured under the excitation wavelength of 330 nm, using a Xenon lamp-based fluorospectrometer coupled to a handheld optical fiber probe. Autofluorescence spectroscopies were analyzed among patients with OSF lesions, and oral lesions of epithelial hyperkeratosis (EH), epithelial dysplasia (ED), and squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and normal oral mucosa (NOM) of healthy volunteers. RESULTS: We found that the most intensely autofluorescence emission peaks occurred at 380 nm and 460 nm. For comparing the spectral patterns among different groups of oral lesions and NOM, ratios of the area under the spectrum of 460+/-10 nm to that under the spectrum of 380+/-10 nm (denoted as A(460+/-10nm)/A(380+/-10nm)) were calculated. The mean ratio values increased gradually from OSF to NOM, to EH and ED, and to SCC. The ANOVA test showed significant differences in the ratio value among all categories of samples (P<0.01). On the other hand, we found that EH, ED, and SCC lesions on OSF patients had distorted autofluorescence intensity. The mean ratio values of EH, ED, and SCC between non-OSF and OSF patients show significant differences. Furthermore, an ANOVA test showed NOM is not distinguishable from EH and ED lesions on oral fibrotic mucosa (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Autofluorescence spectroscopy can be used to diagnose EH, ED, and SCC lesions in non-OSF patients but not in OSF patients.     

口腔鳞癌中p12蛋白的表达

目的：探讨p12蛋白在口腔鳞状细胞癌组织中的表达及其与口腔鳞癌发生发展的关系。方法：采用免疫组织化学S-P法,对40例口腔鳞癌组织,4例重度异常增生,8例口腔粘膜溃疡,6例口腔正常粘膜组织中p12蛋白的表达情况进行检测。结果：口腔鳞癌及重度异常增生组织中p12蛋白的表达明显低于炎性病变及正常粘膜组织。结论：p12蛋白在口腔鳞状细胞癌组织中的表达常为缺失,说明其作为一种候选抑癌基因在口腔鳞癌的发生中可能起一定作用,且不存在组织部位特异性。