Correlation between the expression of cytokeratin-18-mRNA and invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the expression of cytokeratin (CK)-18 and biological behavior of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-three patients with OSCC were investigated for the expression of CK-18-mRNA by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Correlations between clinical stages, pathological differentiation, lymphatic metastasis and the expression of CK-18-mRNA were evaluated. CK-18-mRNA expression of peripheral blood from the 23 patients and 23 healthy people were also examined. During follow-up after operation, the peripheral blood was collected again for the expression of CK-19-mRNA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression of CK-18-mRNA was found in 16 patients. The expression of CK-18-mRNA was significantly associated with clinical stages, tumor differentiation and lymphatic metastasis. CK-18-mRNA was positive in 4 of 23 blood specimens before operation, but during follow-up only 1 of 23 patients was still positive in peripheral blood.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CK-18 may provide additional information in forecasting the metastasis of OSCC and serve as a reference in monitoring recurrence.</p>