ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of cytokeratin 17 (CK17) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as well as its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Detection of the mRNA level and protein expression of CK17 in the in vitro cellular carcinogenesis model of OSCC, some OSCC cell lines and tissue specimens from 30 primary OSCC patients were performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Increased CK17 mRNA level was observed in the HB56 and OSC cell lines compared with the HIOEC using real-time PCR technique. Western blot showed increased CK17 protein expression in all the cell lines compared with the HIOEC. Increased CK17 mRNA and immunoreaction levels were also observed in the cancerous tissue specimens from OSCC patients compared with normal adjacent tissues (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The significantly increased CK17 gene may be associated with the tumorigenesis and development of OSCC.</p>