Midkine expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and leukoplakia

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41 : 21–26 Background: Midkine (MK), a 13‐kDa heparin‐binding growth factor, is overexpressed in various human cancers. However, its role in the development and progression of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is still unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of MK in samples of OCSCC, leukoplakia, and healthy oral mucosa (control). Methods: Surgically excised specimens from patients with primary OCSCC (n = 28) were immunostained for MK, Ki‐67, PCNA, p53, bcl‐2, Bax, and CD31. Besides this, MK expression was also investigated in leukoplakia and normal oral mucosa. The relationship of MK⁺ cells with clinical parameters (tumor location, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and survival) and microscopic parameters (WHO histological grading, intensity of inflammation, proliferation index, apoptosis, and angiogenesis) was also evaluated. Results: The results showed that MK expression was increased in OCSCC in relation to leukoplakia and normal mucosa. Furthermore, MK expression was increased in late‐stage tumors (T3/T4) compared with early‐stage lesions (T1/T2). MK‐positive lesions also showed increased expression of the anti‐apoptotic protein bcl‐2. Conclusion: OCSCC, particularly late‐stage tumors, exhibits increased MK expression, which may be involved in tumor progression via upregulation of anti‐apoptotic genes, as shown by the augmented bcl‐2 positivity in MK‐positive tumors.     

DNA amplification and expression of FADD in oral squamous cell carcinoma

J Oral Pathol Med (2010) 39 : 525–532 Background: The Fas‐associated death domain‐containing protein, FADD, is an adaptor for relaying apoptotic signals. However, recent studies have shown that FADD also plays an important role in the growth and regulation of the cell cycle. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role of FADD in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods: The DNA amplification of FADD from 30 samples of tongue SCC was analyzed using real‐time PCR and the protein expression of FADD from 60 samples of tongue SCC was analyzed using immunohistochemistry. Results: The DNA amplifications of FADD were observed in 13 cases (44.3%) and were significantly correlated with the histopathological differentiation grade of SCCs (P = 0.009). FADD expression levels compared with the matched adjacent epithelium increased significantly (P = 0.000). Additionally, the positive expressions of FADD were significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis of SCCs (P = 0.029) and the 5‐year disease‐specific survival rates (P = 0.049). A positive association between FADD expression level and the histopathological differentiation grade was found to be limited to T1 SCCs (P = 0.019). DNA amplification was moderately correlated (correlation coefficient = 0.406, P = 0.026) with expression of FADD in 30 samples of tongue SCC. Conclusion: In tongue SCCs, the expression of FADD was higher when compared with that of adjacent areas, which might be determined via genomic amplification in 11q13.3. Thus, SCC cells with the expression of FADD are possibly more likely to become metastatic and to worsen survival rates.     

ANGPTL4 regulates the metastatic potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Lymph node metastasis is a major factor for poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the molecular mechanisms of lymph node metastasis are unclear. We determined that angiopoietin‐like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) mRNA and protein expression were increased in OSCC cells established from the primary site in metastatic cases. In addition, ANGPTL4 expression in biopsy specimens was correlated with the presence of lymph node metastasis. Therefore, our initial findings suggest that OSCC cells expressing ANGPTL4 may possess metastatic ability. Furthermore, cell culture supernatants from OSCC cells that metastasized to the lymph node contain ANGPTL4 and promote invasive ability. These findings suggest that secreted ANGPTL4 may affect the invasive ability of OSCC. Moreover, the rates of positive ANGPTL4 expression at the primary site were significantly higher in the lymph node metastasis group. These results demonstrate that ANGPTL4 contributes to OSCC metastasis by stimulating cell invasion. Therefore, ANGPTL4 is a potential therapeutic target for preventing cancer metastasis.     

Eotaxin expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas with and without tumour associated tissue eosinophilia

AIM: Eotaxin is a powerful and selective eosinophil chemoattractant. The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of eotaxin in oral squamous cell carcinomas with and without tumour associated tissue eosinophilia (TATE). The mechanisms that control the recruitment of eosinophils to these tumours are not clearly established. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) with TNM stages II and III, located in the tongue, oral floor, retromolar area and inferior gingiva were divided in two groups: 1--OSCC with intense eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrate and 2--OSCC with absent/low eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrate. The eotaxin expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using standard streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique with monoclonal (mouse anti-human eotaxin) and polyclonal (rabbit anti-human eotaxin) antibodies. RESULTS: The eotaxin expression was identified in normal oral mucosa as well as in both OSCC groups including malignant epithelial cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, plasma cells and fibroblasts. The eosinophils showed intense immunopositivity for eotaxin. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the eotaxin expressed in oral squamous cell carcinomas, mainly derived from eosinophils, is probably involved in the mechanisms of eosinophils chemotaxis to the tumour and in the maintenance of TATE in these malignant tumours.     

维吾尔族口腔鳞状细胞癌患者中血清鳞状细胞癌抗原的表达研究

目的 探讨维吾尔族口腔鳞状细胞癌(OSCC)患者血清中鳞状细胞癌抗原(SCC-Ag)的表达.方法 采用化学发光法检测90例维吾尔族OSCC患者(OSCC组)和90例维吾尔族其他口腔恶性肿瘤患者(口腔非OSCC恶性肿瘤组)、101例维吾尔族口腔良性肿瘤患者(良性肿瘤组)和120例维吾尔族正常对照者(正常组)的血清SCC-Ag水平,并对其中60例OSCC和60例口腔非OSCC恶性肿瘤患者治疗前后SCC-Ag水平进行检测,分析SCC-Ag在OSCC诊断、治疗疗效中的意义.结果 OSCC组的SCC-Ag水平明显高于口腔非OSCC恶性肿瘤组(P=0.002),良性肿瘤组(P=0.001)和正常组(P=0.001).OSCC患者血清SCC-Ag阳性率为43.3％(39/90),明显高于其他3组(P=0.000 1).OSCC患者TNM晚期的术前SCC-Ag水平的表达高于早期水平(P<0.05).复发组和未复发组的术前、术后、放化疗后SCC-Ag水平相比较,差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05).手术及放化疗前后鳞状细胞癌患者血清SCC-Ag水平变化差异有统计学意义(P＜0.0 1),然而,在口腔非OSCC恶性肿瘤组治疗疗效差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 血清SCC-Ag对维吾尔族OSCC患者的早期诊断敏感性不高,但在评价治疗疗效,预测肿瘤复发方面有重要的临床意义.     

口腔鳞癌淋巴结转移与丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 激酶4基因表达的关系及其临床意义

目的 研究丝裂原活化蛋白激酶激酶4 (MKK4)在口腔鳞癌(OSCC)中的表达及其与浸润转移的关系.方法 应用免疫组织化学技术及逆转录-聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)检测口腔鳞癌原发灶及淋巴结转移灶中MKK4蛋白和mRNA的表达.结果 75例石蜡包埋口腔鳞癌组织中,MKK4蛋白的表达在48例转移组高于27例无淋巴结转移组...     

The prevalence of oral leukoplakia in 138 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to evaluate possible differences between those carcinomas with and without associated leukoplakia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 138 patients were studied at the Stomatology Service of the University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain. These patients were divided into two groups: group 1, patients with oral cancer and leukoplakia, and group 2, patients with OSCC but with no associated premalignant lesions. The relationship between this precancerous lesion and the OSCC was evaluated, as well as the possible clinical and histological differences between the tumours of the two groups. RESULTS: Leukoplakia was detected in 27 (19.56%) patients with OSCC. No differences were found between the two groups regarding age and tumour location. However, statistically significant differences were observed with respect to the form, tumour stage and the presence of adenopathies in the cancers with and without leukoplakia; in that the tumours associated with leukoplakia were diagnosed as being at a more initial stage. CONCLUSIONS: Those patients with OL associated with oral cancer presented with tumours at a less advanced stage than those where no associated leukoplakia existed.     

口腔黏膜癌前病变及口腔鳞癌中bFGF的表达及意义

目的　探讨口腔黏膜癌前病变及口腔鳞癌的发生、发展过程中bFGF的表达及意义。方法　应用免疫组织化学方法对 10例正常口腔黏膜、2 7例口腔扁平苔藓、2 4例口腔白斑及 3 0例口腔鳞癌分别进行检测。结果　口腔鳞癌组织中bFGF高表达 ,明显高于正常口腔黏膜、口腔扁平苔藓和口腔白斑组织 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;口腔扁平苔藓和口腔白斑组织中bFGF表达高于正常口腔黏膜 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论　bFGF的过表达在口腔鳞癌的发生、发展过程中起着十分重要的作用 ,可以将其作为预测口腔黏膜恶变潜能的重要标志物     

TEAD4与口腔鳞癌预后和细胞迁移侵袭的研究

目的:研究TEA转录因子4(TEAD4)在口腔鳞癌(OSCC)组织中的表达与临床病理参数、预后的关系。方法:免疫组化检测79例原发性OSCC标本和21例口腔正常上皮黏膜中TEAD4的表达水平,分析其与临床病理参数之间的关系。使用小干扰RNA(siRNA)转染沉默Cal27细胞内源性TEAD4,通过Western blot、qRT-PCR、划痕试验、Transwell侵袭等实验探究TEAD4沉默对OSCC细胞系Cal27迁移、侵袭的影响。结果:免疫组化结果显示TEAD4在OSCC组织中表达明显高于正常口腔黏膜(P<0.05)。TEAD4高表达与患者颈淋巴结转移、临床分期和患者总体生存率相关(P<0.05)。TEAD4沉默后Cal27细胞侵袭、迁移能力明显减弱。结论:TEAD4高表达与OSCC恶性表型及预后有关,参与OSCC细胞迁移、侵袭表型的调控。     

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.     

不同癌基因在口腔白斑和鳞癌中表达的研究

目的 研究正常口腔黏膜，口腔黏膜白斑及口腔鳞癌组织中不同癌基因的表达。方法 通过HE染色确定口腔黏膜组织类型，提取组织中RNA，采用RT－PCR的方法研究不同组织中c-myc、ras、cyclinD1及bcl-2基因的表达。结果 正常口腔黏膜中未见c-myc、ras、cyclinD1及bcl-2基因表达；轻、中、重度异常增生白斑和鳞癌组织中c-myc、ras、cyclinD1及bcl-2基因表达显著增加。结论 c-myc、ras、cyclinD1及bcl-2基因的表达增加与口腔黏膜白斑及鳞癌的发生相关。