Decreased expression of Ep-CAM protein is significantly associated with the progression and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinomas in Taiwan

Background:  The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is involved in cell signaling, migration, proliferation, cell-cycle regulation, and cancer metastasis.
Methods:  This study used an immunohistochemical technique to examine the expression of Ep-CAM protein in 84 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 98 specimens of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED, 31 mild, 41 moderate, and 26 severe OED cases), and 15 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM).
Results:  We found that the mean Ep-CAM labeling indices (LIs) decreased significantly from NOM (80 ± 18%) and mild OED (76 ± 14%) through moderate OED (66 ± 22%) and severe OED (55 ± 20%) to OSCC samples (46 ± 16%, P <  0.001). A significant correlation was found between the lower mean Ep-CAM LI and OSCCs with larger tumor size ( P =  0.003), positive lymph node metastasis ( P =  0.022), more advanced clinical stages ( P <  0.001), cancer recurrence ( P =  0.021), or extracapsular spread of lymph node ( P =  0.015). However, only Ep-CAM LI  <  50% ( P  < 0.0001) was identified as an independent unfavorable prognosis factor by multivariate analyses with Cox proportional hazard regression model. Kaplan–Meier curve showed that OSCC patients with an Ep-CAM LI < 50% had a significantly poorer cumulative survival than those with an Ep-CAM LI ≥ 50% ( P  < 0.00001, log-rank test).
Conclusions:  We conclude that the decreased expression of Ep-CAM protein is an early event in oral carcinogenesis. The Ep-CAM LI in OSCC samples can predict the progression of OSCCs and the survival of OSCC patients.     

UHRF1在口腔黏膜鳞癌中的表达及其对临床预后的价值研究

目的 分析泛素样含PHD和环指域1(ubiquitin like with PHD and ring finger domains 1,UHRF1)在口腔黏膜鳞状细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法 收集2008—2016年间,于中国科学技术大学附属第一医院口腔颌面外科接受手术治疗的原发性口腔鳞癌患者,利用免疫荧光染色评估患者的肿瘤组织、癌旁正常组织及侵袭前沿中的UHRF1表达,了解其表达差异性。以免疫反应强度分布指数(immunoreactivity intensity distribution index, IRIDI)值4分为界限,将患者分为UHRF1高表达组和低表达组,分析UHRF1表达水平与患者临床病理特征之间的关系,利用Kaplan-Meier法对肿瘤组织中UHRF1表达水平与患者生存率的相关性进行分析,运用Cox风险模型对影响口腔癌患者生存率的相关危险因素进行分析。结果 与肿瘤侵袭前沿、癌旁正常组织相比,UHRF1在口腔鳞癌肿瘤组织中高表达(P<0.01)。口腔鳞癌组织中UHRF1的表达水平与患者性别、肿瘤大小、浸润深度相关(P<0.05)。UHRF1低表达组和高...     

Prognostic significance of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background:  The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the apoptosis-inhibitory Bcl-2 protein and the apoptosis-promoting Bax protein and to identify their association with the clinical parameters and prognosis of the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Methods:  The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining in specimens from 110 patients with OSCC. Every section was scored according to both the percentage of positive staining tumor cells and the staining intensity. The Kaplan-Meier test and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to assess the correlation between the protein levels and the long survival rate of patients. The association between Bax, Bcl-2 immunoexpression and clinicopathologic variables was analyzed with the chi-square test and non-parametric analysis. The Bcl-2 and Bax immunoexpression in 20 oral mucosa samples were also investigated as normal control.
Results:  The results showed that the 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in the patients with the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax ≤ 1 than in those with Bcl-2/Bax > 1 (76.79 ± 6.69% vs. 59.26 ± 6.69%, P  = 0.0489). Bax immunoreactivity was significantly correlated with histological grading and lymph node metastasis. Univariate analysis indicated that the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and lymph node metastasis were two independent factors related to the prognosis.
Conclusion:  The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax could be used as an effective biomarker to predict the prognosis of OSCC.     

口腔鳞癌腮腺淋巴结转移的临床病理特征与预后分析

目的:探讨口腔鳞癌患者腮腺淋巴结转移的临床病理特征及预后影响因素.方法:回顾性分析2003年1月—2017年12月上海交通大学医学院附属第九人民医院收治的60例伴或不伴腮腺淋巴结转移的口腔鳞癌患者的临床病理资料及影像学资料,分析其临床病理和影像学特征及其与预后的相关性.采用SPSS 23.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析....     

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is significantly associated with the progression and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinomas in Taiwan

Background:  Overexpression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) has been found to be significantly associated with the tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and prognosis of a variety of human cancers.
Methods:  This study examined the expression of HIF-1α in 57 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 41 specimens of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED, 12 mild, 17 moderate, and 12 severe OED cases), and 14 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM) by immunohistochemistry.
Results:  We found that the mean nuclear HIF-1α labeling indices (LIs) increased significantly from NOM (9 ± 6%) through mild OED (25 ± 18%), moderate OED (41 ± 27%), and severe OED (42 ± 22%) to OSCC samples (55 ± 23%, P  < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the higher mean nuclear HIF-1α LI and OSCCs with larger tumor size ( P  < 0.001), regional lymph node metastasis ( P  < 0.001), or more advanced clinical stages ( P  < 0.001). Only larger tumor size ( P  = 0.002) and nuclear HIF-1α LI ≥ 60% ( P  = 0.048) were identified as independent unfavorable prognosis factor by multivariate analyses with Cox regression model. Kaplan–Meier curve showed that OSCC patients with a nuclear HIF-1α LI ≥ 60% had a significantly poorer cumulative survival than those with a nuclear HIF-1α LI < 60% (log-rank test, P  = 0.022).
Conclusions:  We conclude that the expression of HIF-1α is an early event in oral carcinogenesis. The nuclear HIF-1α LI in OSCC samples can predict the progression of OSCCs and the survival of OSCC patients.     

Endothelial cell Bcl-2 and lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41 : 124–130 Background: Loco‐regional spread of disease causes high morbidity and is associated with the poor prognosis of malignant oral tumors. Better understanding of mechanisms underlying the establishment of lymph node metastasis is necessary for the development of more effective therapies for patients with oral cancer. The aims of this work were to evaluate a possible correlation between endothelial cell Bcl‐2 and lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to study signaling pathways that regulate Bcl‐2 expression in lymphatic endothelial cells. Methods: Endothelial cells were selectively retrieved from paraffin‐embedded tissue sections of primary human OSCC from patients with or without lymph node metastasis by laser capture microdissection. RT‐PCR was used to evaluate Bcl‐2 expression in tumor‐associated endothelial cells and in tumor cells. In vitro, mechanistic studies were performed to examine the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C on the expression of Bcl‐2 in primary human lymphatic endothelial cells. Results:  We observed that Bcl‐2 expression is upregulated in the endothelial cells of human oral tumors with lymph node metastasis as compared to endothelial cells from stage‐matched tumors without metastasis. VEGF‐C induced Bcl‐2 expression in lymphatic endothelial cells via VEGFR‐3 and PI3k/Akt signaling. Notably, OSCC cells express VEGF‐C and induce Bcl‐2 in lymphatic endothelial cells. Conclusions: Collectively, this work unveiled a mechanism for the induction of Bcl‐2 in lymphatic endothelial cells and suggested that endothelial cell Bcl‐2 contributes to lymph node metastasis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.     

基质金属蛋白酶及其抑制剂与口腔鳞癌颈淋巴结转移的关系

目的:探讨基质金属蛋白酶-2,9(MMP-2,9)和基质金属蛋白酶抑制剂-1,2(TIMP-1,2)在口腔鳞癌中的表达形式以及其活性与颈淋巴结转移的关系。方法:应用原位杂交法(in situ hybridization,ISH)检测30例口腔鳞癌组织,口腔鳞癌转移细胞系GNM和人舌鳞癌细胞系TSCCa MMP-2,9和TIMP-1,2的表达;应用胶质酶谱法(zomography)分析上述标本MMP-2,9的活性以及应用体外侵袭实验检测两细胞系侵袭力的差异。结果:MMP-2,9和TIMP-1,2 mRNA 在肿瘤细胞和间质细胞均有表达;有转移鳞癌组织MMP-2,9,以及TIMP-1,2阳性率均高于无转移患者(P<0105), GNMMMP-2,9阳性率高于TSCCa;MMP-2,9活性在转移组明显高于未转移组(P<0105);GNM条件培养上清液中 MMP-2,9活性以及体外侵袭力均高于TSCCa。结论:MMP-2,9在口腔鳞癌转移中有重要作用,TIMP-1,2表达上升可能是肿瘤细胞与间质相互作用的结果。     

Expression of CXCR4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma: correlations with clinicopathology and pivotal role of proliferation

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 63–68
Background:  The chemokine SDF-1 and its receptor CXCR4 play active role in the metastasis and proliferation of several malignancies.
Methods:  In this study, we used an immunohistochemical technique in 91 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and flow cytometry technique in oral SCC cell line, and then evaluated the role of proliferation of CXCR4 using MTT assay in oral SCC cell line.
Results:  The expression of CXCR4 in 91 specimens of oral SCC was 62.6% and in oral SCC cell line was 68.6%. There was a significant association between the expression of CXCR4 and lymph node metastasis ( P  = 0.012), tumor size ( P  = 0.01), UICC stage ( P  = 0.016), tumor histology grade ( P  < 0.001). SDF-1 stimulated proliferation of oral SCC cell and CXCR4 neutralization by monoclonal antibodies decreased proliferation.
Conclusions:  Our results suggest that CXCR4 might be a novel biomarker to evaluate the biological behavior of oral SCC. CXCR4 inhibitors or antagonists might be potential anticancer agents to suppress tumor proliferation.     

Prediction of occult cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with stage I -II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

The presence of lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in oral cancer. The purpose of this study was to find useful markers for predicting occult cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with stage I or II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. We investigated 6 clinicopathologic factors and 2 genetic markers to predict late or occult cervical metastasis in 33 patients with stage I and II oral squamous cell carcinoma who underwent partial glossectomy through the mouth without elective neck dissection. In this study, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with specimens obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNA biopsies) of primary oral cancer material, to investigate numerical aberration of the gene. Late cervical lymph node metastasis occurred in 16 of the 33 patients (48.5%) during follow-up after treatment of the primary tumor. Factors significantly associated with the development of cervical metastasis were the mode of invasion (p = 0.009), cyclin D1 (p = 0.003) and EGFR numerical aberration (p = 0.024). The rate of disease-free survival from metastatic disease was significantly lower in patients with mode of invasion 4 C-4 D than in those with 1-3, and was significantly lower in patients with cyclin D 1 or EGFR gene numerical aberrations than in those without such aberrations (log rank test, p = 0.0064, p = 0.0016 or p = 0.0150). Our results indicate that patients with stage I - II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity with the mode of invasion 4 C or 4 D, cyclin D 1 and EGFR gene numerical aberration should be considered a high-risk group for late cervical lymph node metastasis.     

Biomarkers predictive of lymph node metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The ability of oral squamous cell carcinoma to metastasize to lymph nodes does not always show a relationship with clinical staging. The aim of this study was to attempt to define a trend for predictive histopathologic and/or molecular biomarkers in the development of nodal metastasis by analyzing 2 clinically extreme groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with small primary tumors (T1, T2) with lymph node metastasis and patients with large primary tumors (T3, T4) without metastatic disease were identified among 315 consecutive cases of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma. Group comparisons were made with use of a Mann-Whitney test, and associations among the variables were assessed with nonparametric and parametric correlational analyses. RESULTS: The degree of keratinization was significantly less in primary tumors with lymph node metastasis (P < or = .01). The degree of keratinization was significantly associated with nuclear pleomorphism (P =.02), number of mitoses (P =.02), stage of invasion (P =.002), and p53 expression (P =.04), independent of clinical stage of the tumor. Other microscopic features and immunohistochemical markers did not differ significantly between the groups (P >.05). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that there still is no single predictive parameter superior to the degree of keratinization to identify patients at risk for the development of regional metastasis.     

Maspin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Maspin (mammary serine protease inhibitor) is a member of the serpin superfamily of protease inhibitors and it has a role as a tumor suppressor. Maspin has been reported to be important in processes relevant to tumor growth and metastasis such as cell invasion, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. A high expression of maspin was correlated with better rates of survival and absence of nodal metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast, some studies have shown that maspin overexpression is correlated with a poor prognosis in pancreatic and ovarian cancers and in lung adenocarcinoma. The aim of this study was an immunohistochemical evaluation of the maspin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and thus 89 patients were evaluated. Maspin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma was significantly associated with the tumor differentiation grade (chi test: P = 0.0318) and the lymph node status (chi test: P < 0.005), but not with the tumor stage (chi test: P = 0.666). Metastatic involvement of lymph nodes was observed more frequently in maspin-negative cases than in tumors with more than 5% of positive cells (P = 0.0024). The present results confirm that maspin expression predicts a better prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma and that maspin probably plays a role in tumor progression.     

Apoptosis-associated markers and clinical outcome in human oral squamous cell carcinomas

Background:  Apoptosis is a genetically regulated cell death involved in the deletion of cells in normal or malignant tissues. Proteins of the Bcl-2 family play a key role in the control of apoptosis and carry out both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic functions. The present study evaluated the prognostic value of Bcl-2 and Bax expression at the invasive front of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), taking clinicopathological findings into account.
Methods:  Fifty-six specimens of OSCC were randomly selected, and Bcl-2 and Bax expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pre-treated specimens at the invasive front of OSCC. Clinicopathological data were gathered and patient survival was analysed.
Results:  No significant relationship was found between Bcl-2 or Bax expression and clinical variables. Patients with Bcl-2 expression had a worse prognosis than those without Bcl-2 expression, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Patients with Bax expression had a significantly better prognosis than those without Bax expression ( P  <   0.05). In univariate analyses, T category, mode of cancer invasion and Bax expression showed significant correlations. Multivariate analysis revealed that the mode of cancer invasion and Bax expression were significant and independent variables. Bax expression was found to be the strongest independent prognostic parameter. Patients with negative Bcl-2 expression and positive Bax expression had a significantly better prognosis ( P  <   0.005).
Conclusion:  We suggest that Bax expression at the invasive front of OSCC is a significant predictor of prognosis and that it is therefore important to investigate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in this disease.     

Study of antiapoptotic gene of oral carcinoma by using Bcl-2 oncogene

The present study was addressed to find out the expression of Bcl-2 proto-oncogene in tumor tissue derived from 24 patients with malignant oral carcinoma and oral mucosa from the same patients served as control and showed a cytoplasmic pattern of Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in basal cell layer. Fourteen of 24 (58.3%) of oral carcinoma and four adenocystic carcinoma expressed positive Bcl-2 oncogene. Well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma showed absence of immunoreactivity. No statistically significant correlation could be demonstrated between Bcl-2 immunoreactivity and the age or sex of the patients, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis. A direct correlation between Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in G2 and G3 was statistically significant ( P  < 0.05). Patients with absence of or low (scores 0 or 1) Bcl-2 immunoreactive tumors manifested poorer overall survival rate in comparison with patients with moderate or high (scores 2 and 3) Bcl-2 expression, but the difference was not statistically significant. Tumors exhibited three different expressions of Bcl-2 (weak, moderate, and strong positive), compared to the mucosa of some patients affected by these tumors. No correlation was found between the histopathology of the tumors, mucosal expression, and degree of Bcl-2 expression. We propose from this study that overexpression of Bcl-2 proto-oncogene acts as a strong antiapoptotic in both squamous cells and adenocystic carcinoma may be an important molecular event on oral carcinoma to make these tumors resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.     

Claudin-1在口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达

目的:探讨Claudin-1在口腔鳞状细胞癌(oral squamous cell carcinoma,OSCC)中的表达水平、分布特征及其与临床病理因素之间的关系。方法:采用免疫组化SP法检测67例OSCC与10例癌旁口腔上皮中Claudin-1的表达信号。采用SPSS 13.0软件包进行计数资料χ2检验。结果:Claudin-1在口腔上皮中以强阳性表达为主。在高分化鳞癌中,阳性表达近似于口腔上皮,信号分布于细胞膜;在中、低分化鳞癌中,信号分布趋向细胞质,其表达水平呈递减趋势。Claudin-1在OSCC间质纤维增生区域阳性表达信号呈增强趋势;在OSCC淋巴细胞密集区表达水平升高。Claudin-1的表达与临床分期、组织分型、是否有淋巴结转移均有相关性(P<0.05)。临床分期中,Ⅲ+Ⅳ期癌组织Claudin-1阳性表达水平明显低于Ⅰ+Ⅱ期组;组织分型中,中、低分化组Claudin-1阳性表达水平显著低于高分化组;有颈淋巴结转移组,Claudin-1阳性表达水平显著低于无转移组(P<0.05)。结论:Claudin-1在OSCC不同临床分期及组织分型中均有不同程度表达,随着肿瘤分化程度降低,表达信号下调,且Claudin-1的表达水平与肿瘤细胞微环境相关。     

CCND1、ORAOV1、ERCC1在舌鳞状细胞癌中的表达和临床意义

目的:通过观察 CCND1、ORAOV1、ERCC1在舌鳞状细胞癌中的表达情况,探讨CCND1、ORAOV1、ERCC1与舌癌发生、发展的相关性。方法:应用免疫组织化学染色方法检测38例舌鳞状细胞癌组织芯片及4例正常舌组织芯片中CCND1,ORAOV1,ERCC1蛋白表达情况,并分析其与临床病理特征的关系。结果:舌癌组织中CCND1蛋白的阳性表达率明显高于正常舌组织(P<0.05),但其过表达水平与正常舌组织相比无统计学差异;CCND1阳性表达率及过表达水平与患者年龄、性别、肿瘤组织学分级及肿瘤有无淋巴结转移之间无明显相关。ORAOV1在舌癌组织中的表达明显升高(P<0.05),且与肿瘤有无淋巴结转移之间显著相关(P<0.05);ORAOV1在舌癌中的过表达水平与对照组相比无明显差异,但随着肿瘤分化程度的降低ORAOV1的过表达水平显著上升(P<0.05)。ERCC1蛋白在舌鳞状细胞癌组织中的阳性表达率及过表达水平均明显低于正常舌组织(P<0.05),并均与肿瘤有无淋巴结转移之间显著相关(P<0.05);且与高、中分化组相比,低分化组ERCC1蛋白过表达水平上升,但无统计学差异。结论:在舌鳞状细胞癌组织中CCND1和ORAOV1显著高表达,ERCC1表达显著降低,三者的检测对早期诊断舌癌具有指导意义。     

Immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in different areas of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Several studies have shown the participation of MMPs in oral squamous cell carcinoma, the most frequent malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. The expression of some MMPs correlates with a more aggressive biological behaviour. The objective of this study was to determine which MMPs and TIMPs were expressed in both neoplastic and peritumoural stromal cells in different histopathology areas. Methods: Patients who underwent primary tumour neck dissection for oral squamous cell carcinoma were included. Immunoexpression of MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -9, -11, -13, and TIMP-1 and -2 in different areas of pathologic specimens (in situ carcinoma, primary tumour, invasive front, distant invasion carcinoma, and lymph node metastasis) was evaluated. Enzyme expression on mucosa adjacent to tumour served as control. Results: Thirty cases were included. Only 6 MMPs and 1 TIMP were expressed in the studied areas. Statistically significant differences in the number of cases with positive MMPs or TIMP expression, in both neoplastic and peritumoural cells, between control and the rest of the areas were observed. MMP-2 expression was constant in the areas with a more aggressive biological behaviour. Conclusions: MMP-2 expression may represent a dynamic interaction between host and tumour that favours the establishment of neoplastic cells at distant sites.     

Fatty acid synthase expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: clinicopathological findings

Background:  Overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FAS), the cytosolic enzyme responsible for the conversion of dietary carbohydrates to fatty acids, has been reported in several human malignancies and pointed as a potential prognostic marker for some tumors. This study investigated whether FAS immunohistochemical expression is correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Materials and methods:  The clinical features of 102 patients with OSCC of the tongue treated in a single institution were obtained from the medical records and all histopathological diagnoses were reviewed. The expression of FAS was determined by the standard immunoperoxidase technique in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded specimens and correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors.
Results:  Eighty-one cases (79.41%) were positive for FAS. Microscopic characteristics such as histological grade ( P  < 0.05), lymphatic permeation ( P  < 0.001), perineural infiltration ( P  < 0.05), and nodal metastasis ( P  < 0.02) were associated with FAS status. A significantly lower survival probability for patients with advanced clinical stage (log-rank test, P  < 0.001), lymph nodes metastasis (log-rank test, P  < 0.001), presence of vascular permeation (log-rank test, P  = 0.05), and perineural invasion (log-rank test, P  = 0.01) was observed in the studied samples.
Conclusion:  The expression of FAS in OSCC of the tongue is associated with the microscopic characteristics that determine disease progression and prognosis.     

Serum soluble CD44v6 levels in patients with oral and maxillofacial malignancy

Objective:  To determine the levels of serum sCD44v6 in patients with oral cancer and evaluate the value of serum sCD44v6 in adjuvant diagnosis, staging and monitoring treatment response in these patients.
Materials and Methods:  A total of 112 hospitalized patients with oral and maxillofacial malignancy and 28 healthy individuals were examined for serum sCD44v6 levels. Venous blood was collected from these patients and the healthy individuals. One week after treatment, venous blood was collected once again in 60 patients with oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Results:  The sCD44v6 concentration was not significantly different between patients with oral and maxillofacial malignancy and control group ( P  > 0.05). The levels of serum sCD44v6 in patients with OSCC and salivary carcinoma showed no difference with those in control group ( P  > 0.05). The sCD44v6 level in patients with stage III and IV disease was higher than that of patients with stage I and II and that of the control group, but the difference was not significant ( P  > 0.05).  Serum sCD44v6 levels in patients with OSCC after treatment became lower than that prevailed during pretreatment ( P  < 0.05).
Conclusion:  The possible roles of CD44v6 in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial malignancy deserve further elucidation and evaluation. Serum sCD44v6 may be a valuable marker in monitoring treatment response in patients with OSCC.     

Wnt1在口腔鳞癌中的表达及其与淋巴结转移关系的研究

目的 :研究Wnt信号传导通路中Wnt1蛋白在口腔鳞状细胞癌(oral squamous cell carcinoma,OSCC)中的表达水平,初步探讨Wnt1在OSCC淋巴结转移中的作用。方法:采用免疫组织化学方法,检测60例OSCC中Wnt1的表达情况;采用Western blot法检测5对OSCC临床标本和配对癌周组织中Wnt1的表达;通过实时定量PCR法和Western blot法分别检测高、低转移潜能的HN-12和HN-4口腔鳞癌细胞系中Wnt1基因和蛋白的表达水平;采用生长曲线、划痕实验和Transwell法,分别检测重组蛋白Wnt1对2种细胞的生长情况、迁移能力和侵袭能力的影响。结果:24例淋巴结转移的OSCC中高表达Wnt1,16例未有淋巴结转移的OSCC中低表达Wnt1,Wnt1的表达在两组之间差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);高转移细胞系HN-12较低转移细胞系HN-4在m RNA水平和蛋白水平上Wnt1表达显著增高;重组蛋白Wnt1,能够提高肿瘤细胞的生长、迁移和侵袭能力。结论:Wnt信号通路中的关键分子Wnt1在OSCC中有表达,且与淋巴结转移相关,为进一步探讨Wnt信号通路影响肿瘤转移的分子机制奠定基础。