ABSTRACT
The expression of the adhesion molecule CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6) was studied immunohistochemically on 38 oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and 10 biopsies of healthy oral mucosa. The relationship between the expression of CD44v6 and regional lymph node metastasis was also investigated. The expression of CD44v6 was apparently down-regulated in oral SCC, but not in normal oral mucosa. Carcinomas expressing lower levels of CD44v6 exhibited more frequent regional lymph node metastasis. The expression of CD44v6 showed no statistically significant relationship to the degree of differentiation, but tended to be down-regulated in poorly differentiated carcinoma. No significant relation was found between the expression of CD44v6 in primary and metastatic lesions.
Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Down-Regulation , Exons/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/secondary , Cell Differentiation , Cell Membrane/ultrastructure , Coloring Agents , Epithelium/pathology , Fibroblasts/pathology , Humans , Hyaluronan Receptors/analysis , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Keratins , Mouth Floor/pathology , Mouth Mucosa/cytology , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Tongue Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
The change in the expression pattern of CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6) protein in benign, premalignant, and malignant (SCC) oral epithelial lesions was studied immunohistochemically and compared with the pattern in normal mucosa in order to examine whether this gene can serve as a progression marker in patients with SCC. The principal findings is that CD44v6 expression was clearly downregulated in most cases of severe premalignant lesions as well as in most of the SCCs. The staining pattern and intensity varied according to the degree of dysplasia and to the degree of differentiation of the SCCs. Premalignant severe epithelial dysplasia cases with early features of invasion, not yet developed into SCC, showed distinctly downregulated expression of CD44v6 protein whereas hyperplastic and benign epithelial lesions (papilloma) expressed positive staining patterns comparable to those of the normal counterparts. The authors conclude that alteration in CD44v6 may occur as an early event in primary oral SCC development, as well as in premalignant severe epithelial dysplasia. It can thus, be used as a molecular progression marker when screening for oral cancer.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Hyaluronan Receptors/genetics , Mouth Mucosa/pathology , Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Precancerous Conditions/pathology , Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Cell Differentiation , Coloring Agents , Disease Progression , Down-Regulation , Epithelium/pathology , Humans , Hyaluronan Receptors/analysis , Hyperplasia , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Immunohistochemistry , Mass Screening , Molecular Biology , Mouth Neoplasms/genetics , Mouth Neoplasms/prevention & control , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Papilloma/pathology , Precancerous Conditions/genetics , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/analysis , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/geneticsABSTRACT
Using antihuman CD44 variant 6 monoclonal antibody (2F10), immunohistochemical screenings were performed for 38 oral squamous cell carcinoma cases and 10 oral mucosa in healthy cases as normal counterpart. Normal epithelium in the oral surface was stained intensely by the antibody. The reactivity was particularly strong in the spinous layers of stratified squamous epithelium. Cells in the basal layers exhibited moderate staining. In contrast, expression of CD44v6 tended to be downregulated in 38 oral squamous cell carcinoma materials. Interestingly, more faint or no staining by the anti-CD44v6 monoclonal antibody was found in the primary squamous cell carcinomas involving regional lymphnode metastasis. Downregulation of CD44v6 isoform was suggested to occur during regional lymphnode metastasis on oral squamous, cell carcinomas.
