微小RNAmiR-21和miR-31在13腔鳞癌组织中的表达及意义

目的：检测口腔鳞癌中微小RNA miR-21和miR-31的表达,探讨其与肿瘤发展的关系。方法：应用实时荧光定量PCR的方法检测72例口腔鳞癌,38例正常口腔粘膜miR-21和miR-31的表达,统计学分析其表达与肿瘤临床分期和病理分型的关系。结果：①口腔鳞癌组织与对照组比较,微小RNA miR-21和miR-31的表达都有显著增高（P〈0.05）,其中miR-21的增高更为显著（P〈0.001）。②统计学分析表明,miR-21的表达在晚期鳞癌组织较早中期鳞癌组织增高更为显著（P〈0.01）,在低分化鳞癌组织较中、高分化鳞癌组织增高更为显著（p〈0.001）;MiR-31的表达水平在不同肿瘤临床分期和病理分型鳞癌组织中无明显差异（P〉0.05）。结论：miR-21和miR-31在口腔鳞癌发生发展过程中表达有明显增高,其中miR-21表达水平可作为潜在的口腔鳞癌临床分期分级和预后的指标。     

PLCE1与MMP-9在口腔鳞癌中的表达及其临床意义*

目的:探讨磷脂酶Cε1(PLCE1)与基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)在口腔鳞癌中的表达及临床意义。方法:采用免疫组化方法检测61例口腔鳞癌组织和35例正常口腔黏膜组织中PLCE1和MMP-9的蛋白表达,并分析二者与口腔鳞状细胞癌临床病理参数的关系及二者的相关性。结果:PLCE1在口腔鳞癌组织中表达阳性率为68.85%(42/61),MMP-9在口腔鳞癌组织中表达阳性率为75.40%(46/61),两者在正常口腔黏膜组织中表达阳性率分别为14.28%(5/35)、17.14%(6/35)。PLCE1和MMP-9在正常口腔黏膜组织的阳性表达率均明显低于口腔鳞癌组织(P0.01)。PLCE1与MMP-9的高度阳性表达和患者的性别、年龄、吸烟及肿瘤大小无明显相关性,但与肿瘤TNM分期以及组织分化程度显著相关。口腔鳞癌组织中PLCE1和MMP-9的高表达呈明显正相关(r=0.438,P0.01)。结论:PLCE1和MMP-9的过度表达均与口腔鳞癌的发生、发展及侵袭转移有密切相关性,并检测二者可能会对口腔鳞癌患者的早期临床诊断及预后判断具有一定的参考价值。     

PD-L1和CD147在口腔鳞癌中的表达与临床意义

目的:探讨口腔鳞癌组织中免疫共刺激分子PD-L1与细胞外基质蛋白酶诱导因子CD147的表达、两者的相关性及临床意义。方法:应用免疫组化技术检测66例口腔鳞癌组织及36例正常口腔黏膜组织中PD-L1和CD147的表达,分析PD-L1、CD147表达的相关性及二者与口腔鳞癌临床病理参数的关系。结果:PD-L1在口腔鳞癌组织中表达阳性率为68.18%(45/66),正常口腔黏膜组织中表达阳性率仅为16.67%(6/36);CD147在口腔鳞癌组织中表达阳性率为74.24%(49/66),明显高于其在正常口腔黏膜组织中的表达13.88%(5/36)。PD-L1和CD147两者在口腔鳞癌组织中阳性表达率与口腔黏膜组织相比均明显升高(P0.01)。统计学分析显示,PD-L1和CD147在口腔鳞癌组织中的高表达与患者的性别年龄、吸烟史及肿瘤的体积等因素无明显相关,但与TNM分期及鳞癌的组织分化程度紧密相关。口腔鳞癌组织中PD-L1与CD147两者相关性分析r=0.342,P值小于0.01,说明二者的表达呈显著正相关。结论:口腔鳞癌组织中PD-L1与CD147均呈高表达,并且二者的过度表达可能与口腔鳞癌的发生、发展关系密切,合并检测二者可能为OSCC的诊疗及预后指明新的方向,为口腔鳞癌的靶向治疗提供新的靶点。     

AEG-1和MMP-9在口腔鳞癌中的表达与临床意义

目的:研究星形细胞提升基因-1(AEG-1)与基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)在口腔鳞癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法:采用免疫组化的方法检测53例口腔鳞癌组织和30例正常口腔黏膜组织中AEG-1和MMP-9的蛋白表达,分析其与口腔鳞癌临床病理参数的关系及二者的相关性。结果:AEG-1和MMP-9在口腔鳞癌组织中表达阳性率分别为66.03%(35/53)、73.58%(39/53),在正常口腔黏膜组织中表达阳性率分别为13.33%(4/30)、16.67%(5/30)。AEG-1和MMP-9在口腔鳞癌组织中阳性表达率均高于正常口腔黏膜组织(P0.01)。高表达的AEG-1和MMP-9与口腔鳞癌的组织分化程度,淋巴结转移以及临床分期有密切相关性,但与患者的性别、年龄及吸烟史无相关性。口腔鳞癌组织中AEG-1与MMP-9的表达呈显著正相关(r=0.474,P0.01)。结论:AEG-1和MMP-9的高表达均与口腔鳞癌的发生、发展及转移有密切相关性,同时检测二者可能会对口腔鳞癌的早期诊断及预后判断具有一定的临床参考价值。     

MACC1和C-Met在口腔白斑和口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨分析MACC1和C-Met在正常口腔黏膜、口腔白斑及口腔鳞状细胞癌中的表达及其临床意义。方法:采用免疫组化SP法检测20例口腔黏膜、20例上皮异常增生白斑、50例口腔鳞癌组织中的MACC1、C-Met蛋白的表达情况,采用X2和spearman等级相关分析对结果进行判定。结果:MACC1、C-Met蛋白在异常增生型白斑和口腔鳞癌中的阳性表达率分别为50%、76%,35%、66%,均明显高于正常口腔黏膜(17.6%,5.0%),差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。MACC1和C-Met蛋白表达与口腔鳞癌的分期、淋巴结转移及分化程度密切相关(P0.05)。Spearman等级相关分析显示口腔白斑及口腔鳞癌中MACC1和C-Met的表达呈现正相关(P0.05)。结论:MACC1和C-Met在上皮不典型增生性白斑和口腔鳞癌中高表达,二者在口腔黏膜白斑的癌变和口腔鳞癌的发生发展中可能起重要作用。     

Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase upregulation inversely correlates with lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

We investigated expression levels of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme involved in the biotransformation of many drugs and xenobiotic compounds, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Measurements were performed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR in tumor and matched adjacent healthy tissue. Interestingly, NNMT was up-regulated in most of the favorable OSCCs, while no marked NNMT expression alterations between tumor and normal mucosa were detected in most of the unfavorable OSCCs. Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses also were performed and the relationship between tumor characteristics and NNMT levels in OSCC were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of NNMT as a prognostic marker in the squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. In summary, the present study suggests that NNMT may have potential as a biomarker and a therapeutic target for OSCC.     

Low miR-143/miR-145 Cluster Levels Induce Activin A Overexpression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas,Which Contributes to Poor Prognosis

Deregulated expression of activin A is reported in several tumors, but its biological functions in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are unknown. Here, we investigate whether activin A can play a causal role in OSCCs. Activin A expression was assessed by qPCR and immunohistochemistry in OSCC tissues. Low activin A-expressing cells were treated with recombinant activin A and assessed for apoptosis, proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Those phenotypes were also evaluated in high activin A-expressing cells treated with follistatin (an activin A antagonist) or stably expressing shRNA targeting activin A. Transfections of microRNA mimics were performed to determine whether the overexpression of activin A is regulated by miR-143/miR-145 cluster. Activin A was overexpressed in OSCCs in comparison with normal oral mucosa, and high activin A levels were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation and poor survival. High activin A levels promoted multiple properties associated with malignant transformation, including decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT. Both miR-143 and miR-145 were markedly downregulated in OSCC cell lines and in clinical specimens, and inversely correlated to activin A levels. Forced expression of miR-143 and miR-145 in OSCC cells significantly decreased the expression of activin A. Overexpression of activin A in OSCCs, which is controlled by downregulation of miR-143/miR-145 cluster, regulates apoptosis, proliferation and invasiveness, and it is clinically correlated with lymph node metastasis and poor survival.     

Survivin phosphorylation and M-phase promoting factor in oral carcinogenesis

Survivin is a recently described inhibitor of apoptosis and mitotic regulator which is selectively over-expressed in human tumors. Its expression rate is predictive of disease progression, early recurrences and resistance to therapy. Up-regulation of survivin in oral pre-malignant lesions (OPL) and in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has already been demonstrated in previous studies. A critical step for activation of survivin has been identified in the phosphorylation on Thr34 by the main mitotic kinase p34cdc2-cyclin B1. The aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between survivin, its phosphorylated active form (p-survivin) and M-phase promoting factor (MPF), p34cdc2-cyclin B1 in oral carcinogenesis. 32 OSCCs and 17 OPLs from surgical specimens were studied for cyclin B1, p-survivin, survivin, and p34cdc2 expression by immunohistochemistry. All cases of OSCC expressed survivin and its expression rate was correlated to p-survivin levels (P<0.05). Cyclin B1 was positive in 80% of cases, while p-34cdc2 was over-expressed in all OSCCs. All OPLs associated with OSCC expressed survivin and its levels were correlated to p-survivin levels (P<0.05). Cyclin B1 was positive in 70% of cases, while p-34cdc2 was positive in all OPLs. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that MPF, survivin and p-survivin are expressed during early and late phase of oral carcinogenesis. MPF proteins, which are co-expressed on mitotic apparatus, could represent a potential target for therapies based on manipulation of survivin phosphorylation, which would induce apoptosis in cancer cells.     

Overexpression of CDCA2 in Human Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Correlation with Prevention of G1 Phase Arrest and Apoptosis

Cell division cycle associated 2 (CDCA2) recruits protein phosphatase 1 to chromatin to antagonize activation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent signal transduction. ATM kinase plays a critical role in the DNA damage response and its phosphorylation cascade to inhibit the p53-MDM2 interaction, which releases p53 to induce p21 and G1 cell-cycle arrest. However, the relevance of CDCA2 to human malignancy including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is unknown. In the current study, we found that CDCA2 expression was up-regulated in OSCC cell lines. Functional studies with shRNA system showed that knockdown of CDCA2 significantly (P<0.05) inhibited cellular proliferation compared with the control cells by arresting cell-cycle progression at the G1 phase and up-regulating the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (p21^Cip1, p27^Kip1, p15^INK4B, and p16^INK4A). CDCA2 knockdown also promoted apoptosis after treatment with the DNA damage reagent, cisplatin. In clinical samples, the CDCA2 protein expression level in primary OSCCs was significantly (P<0.05) greater than in matched normal oral tissues (67/85, 79%). Furthermore, CDCA2-positive cases were correlated significantly (P<0.05) with high cancer progression. Our results showed for the first time that CDCA2 frequently is overexpressed in OSCCs and might be associated closely with OSCC progression by preventing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis.     

Genomic DNA Copy Number Aberrations,Histological Diagnosis,Oral Subsite and Aneuploidy in OPMDs/OSCCs

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) characterized by the presence of dysplasia and DNA copy number aberrations (CNAs), may reflect chromosomal instability (CIN) and predispose to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Early detection of OPMDs with such characteristics may play a crucial role in OSCC prevention. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between CNAs, histological diagnosis, oral subsite and aneuploidy in OPMDs/OSCCs. Samples from OPMDs and OSCCs were processed by high-resolution DNA flow cytometry (hr DNA-FCM) to determine the relative nuclear DNA content. Additionally, CNAs were obtained for a subset of these samples by genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) using DNA extracted from either diploid or aneuploid nuclei suspension sorted by FCM. Our study shows that: i) aneuploidy, global genomic imbalance (measured as the total number of CNAs) and specific focal CNAs occur early in the development of oral cancer and become more frequent at later stages; ii) OPMDs limited to tongue (TNG) mucosa display a higher frequency of aneuploidy compared to OPMDs confined to buccal mucosa (BM) as measured by DNA-FCM; iii) TNG OPMDs/OSCCs show peculiar features of CIN compared to BM OPMDs/OSCCs given the preferential association with total broad and specific focal CNA gains. Follow-up studies are warranted to establish whether the presence of DNA aneuploidy and specific focal or broad CNAs may predict cancer development in non-dysplastic OPMDs.     

Ghrelin and obestatin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical and biochemical study

The underlying molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is poorly understood and appears to be controlled on many genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. Obestatin and ghrelin, two recently discovered hormones, are co-expressed in endocrine cells. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the immunohistochemical features of OSCCs in relation to the tissue concentration of ghrelin and obestatin. The association between OSCC and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) status was also explored. The expression of ghrelin and obestatin was examined by immunohistochemistry and immunoassay in oral biopsy specimens: 10 benign squamous epithelial cell samples, 10 microinvasive squamous cell carcinomas, and seven well-differentiated and seven poorly differentiated OSCCs. The presence of EBV was evaluated in these samples using immunohistochemistry. The concentrations of ghrelin and obestatin in tissue homogenates were measured by RIA and ELISA, respectively. Squamous cell carcinomas and benign tissue samples were positive for anti-EBV antibody, and obestatin and ghrelin were shown to be co-expressed in all stratified squamous epithelium samples. Expression of ghrelin and obestatin was decreased or absent in OSCCs in relation to the invasiveness of the carcinoma; ghrelin and obestatin levels in cancerous tissue homogenates were lower than in benign tissue homogenates. These results indicate that the concentrations and distribution of immunoreactive obestatin and ghrelin might be helpful in distinguishing OSCC from benign tumors. Maintaining normal levels of these hormones might be required for regulation of normal cell division. However, detailed studies will be required for better understanding of the complex mechanism of carcinogenesis relating to OSCCs.     

Expression of ATP6V1C1 during oral carcinogenesis

We investigated the gene and protein expressions of V-type ATPase protein subunit C1 (ATP6V1C1) in cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and contralateral normal mucosa in smokers, nonsmokers and former smokers. Subjects were separated into five groups of 15: group 1, smokers with OSCC; group 2, normal contralateral mucosa of OSCC patients; group 3, chronic smokers; group 4, former smokers who had stopped smoking 1 year earlier; group 5, individuals who had never smoked. Exfoliative cytology specimens from oral mucosa of smokers, former smokers and nonsmokers showed normal gene and protein expression. We found significantly greater gene expression in the OSCC group than in the nonsmoker groups. No difference in gene expression was observed between normal contralateral mucosa and nonsmoker groups, smoker and nonsmoker groups or former smoker and nonsmoker groups. We observed intense immunostaining for ATP6V1C1 protein in all cases of OSCC and weak or no staining in smoker, former smoker and nonsmoker groups. Significantly greater expression of ATP6V1C1 protein was observed in the OSCC group compared to the other groups, which supports the role of ATP6V1C1 in effecting changes associated with oral cancer. Analysis of the mucosae of chronic smokers, former smokers and the normal contralateral mucosa of patients with OSCC showed unaltered ATP6V1C1 gene and protein expression. Early stages of carcinogenesis, represented by altered epithelium of chronic smokers, had neither gene nor protein alterations as seen in OSCC. Therefore, we infer that the changes in ATP6V1C1 occur during later stages of carcinogenesis. Our preliminary study provides a basis for future studies of using ATP6V1C1 levels for detecting early stage OSCC.     

Study of feline oral squamous cell carcinoma: potential target for cyclooxygenase inhibitor treatment

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. A potential target for OSCC treatment is cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2). Pet cats with naturally occurring OSCC may offer the opportunity to study anticancer activity of cox inhibitors. Cox-2 expression in feline OSCC was determined by immunohistochemistry. High intensity cox-2 immunoreactivity was detected in 6 of 34 (18%) feline OSCC samples. Weak immunoreactivity was noted in 22 OSCCs and in epithelial cells from oral mucosa of clinically normal cats. Pharmacokinetics of a cox inhibitor (piroxicam, 0.3 mg/kg) were studied in carcinoma-bearing cats to confirm a dose for follow-up trials. The average peak serum piroxicam concentration (948 ng/ml, which inhibited cox-2 activity) and serum half-life (15.9 h) were similar to that in normal cats. These results provide information (cox-2 expression as an inclusion criteria, 0.3 mg/kg daily piroxicam) for the design of follow-up trials of cox inhibitor treatment in pet cats with OSCC.     

NOTCH3 Is Induced in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Promotes Angiogenesis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Recent studies have shown that Notch signaling is involved in many types of cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). However, the role of Notch signaling in the tumor microenvironment is not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of NOTCH3 signaling in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in OSCCs. Immunohistochemical study of 93 human tongue OSCC cases indicated that about one third of OSCCs showed NOTCH3 expression in CAFs, and that this expression significantly correlated with tumor-size. In vitro study showed that OSCC cell lines, especially HO1-N-1 cells stimulated NOTCH3 expression in normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) through direct cell-to-cell contact. Immunohistochemical and morphometric analysis using human OSCC samples demonstrated that NOTCH3 expression in CAFs significantly correlated with micro-vessel density in cancer stroma. In vitro angiogenesis assays involving co-culture of NHDFs with HO1-N-1 and human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs), and NOTCH3 knockdown in NHDFs using siRNA, demonstrated that HO1-N-1 cells significantly promoted tube formation dependent on NOTCH3-expression in NHDFs. Moreover, NOTCH3 expression in CAFs was related to poor prognosis of the OSCC patients. This work provides a new insight into the role of Notch signaling in CAFs associated with tumor angiogenesis and the possibility of NOTCH3-targeted molecular therapy in OSCCs.     

LAMP3 (CD208) Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Epithelial Dysplasia of the Oral Cavity and Clinicopathological Characteristics of Unfavorable Prognosis

Background:This study aimed to evaluate LAMP3 (CD208) gene expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and dysplastic oral epithelium by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and compare LAMP3 expression in different disease grades and stages.Methods:In this study, 60 OSCC and dysplastic oral epithelium samples were obtained from the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences together with their demographic and clinicopathological documents. LAMP3 expression was measured by qPCR.Results:LAMP3 expression was significantly greater in OSCC than in dysplasia samples (P=0.001), in grade III OSCC than in grades I and II, and also greater in advanced than in early OSCC disease stage (P=0.001).Conclusion:The significantly greater LAMP3 expression in OSCC than in dysplastic epithelium indicates a role for LAMP3 in carcinogenesis in oral mucosa. Our results suggest LAMP3 may be useful as an anticancer target and/or to predict disease pathogenesis in OSCC patient’s cells.Key Words: Clinicopathological, Grade, Epithelial dysplasia, LAMP3, Stage, Squamous cell carcinoma.     

P-cadherin expression predicts clinical outcome in oral squamous cell carcinomas

P-cadherin, a transmembrane molecule similar to E-cadherin involved in the cell-cell adhesion, and catenins form complexes between its cytoplasmic domain and the cytoskeleton. Five cell lines, 108 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), 9 metastasis and 10 of normal oral mucosa were examined to evaluate P-cadherin expression and cellular localization by immunohistochemistry and western-blotting. In normal oral mucosa there was a membranous expression only in basal and parabasal layers. 91 cases (84%) showed membranous/cytoplasmic positivity, whereas 17 cases (16%) were negative. In particular, while well-differentiated carcinomas showed P-cadherin upregulation, the protein was homogeneously hypo- or unexpressed in low-differentiated carcinomas. There was a statistically significant correlation between P-cadherin expression and tumour grading: G3 tumours had a lower score than G1-G2 tumours (P<0.05). When analysed for prognostic significance, patients with no P-cadherin expression (score 0) had poorer overall and diseases-free survival rates than the P-cadherin-expressing group (score 1) (P=0.0463 and P=0.0471, respectively). Western blotting analysis of cell lines and tissue samples confirmed immunohistochemical findings. When cell staining pattern of positive cases was examined, 52 cases showed a prevalent membranous pattern, while 39 had a prevalent cytoplasmic pattern. Cases with prevalent cytoplasmic staining showed high rates of lymph node metastases (P>0.05), and regional relapse (P <0.05) and poorer survival rates than the group with prevalent membranous expression (P<0.0001). An absent P-cadherin expression could constitute a hallmark of aggressive biological behaviour in oral squamous cell carcinoma.