Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical significance / 肿瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the role of mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the relationship between the expressions of iNOS mRNA and the clinical pathologic characteristics of OSCC. Methods: In situ hybridization assay was used to detect iNOS mRNA in 10 cases of normal oral mucosa, 12 cases of oral epithelial simple hyperplasia, 28 cases of oral epithelial atypicall hyperplasia, and 32 cases of OSCC. Results: The expressions of iNOS mRNA was negative in the normal oral mucosa. The expression of iNOS mRNA in both atypical hyperplasia and OSCC groups were significantly higher than that in simple hyperplasia group (P 0.05). The expression of iNOS mRNA in the group of well-, moderately- and poorly-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma was significantly different (P < 0.05). The expression of iNOS mRNA in stage III and IV OSCC tissues was significantly higher than those at stage I and II, and significantly higher in OSCC patients with neck lymph node metastasis than those without neck lymph node metastasis (P <0.05). Conclusion: iNOS mRNA may play an important role in OSCC development and progression. The expression of iNOS has a close relationship with the differentiation, TNM stage, and neck lymph node metastasis of OSCC. Detection of NOS may be useful in evaluation of patient's prognosis and guidance of OSCC treatment.