Evaluation of recurrence, mortality and treatment complications of oral squamous cell carcinoma in public health centers in Shiraz during 2010 to 2020.

INTRODUCTION: Oral Squamous cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common oral cancer and is treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Various complications of treatment include xerostomia, mucositis, and trismus, which affect patients' quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mortality, recurrence rate and prevalence of oral complications in treated patients. METHOD AND MATERIALS: This cross-sectional study reviewed 326 cases of patients with OSCC who were referred to public health centers in Shiraz (Khalili Hospital and Dental School) from 2010 to 2020. All patients were contacted, and the survivors were called and examined by an oral physician. A medical record was created for them, including demographic information, location of the lesion, type of treatment, history of recurrence, metastasis and oral complications. RESULTS: 53.5% of patients were male and 46.5% were female. The mean age of patients was 58.68 years. Mortality and recurrence rate was respectively 49.8% and 17.8%. The most common location of the lesion was tongue (64%). Surgery was done for all patients. 97.4% of patients complained of xerostomia, 46.2% of mucositis and 44.3% of trismus. CONCLUSION: The most common complications of treatment are xerostomia, mucositis, and trismus, respectively. Frequent and regular follow-ups and supportive therapies reduce these complications and improve patients' quality of life.

The effect of indocyanine green-mediated photodynamic therapy in healing of experimentally induced oral mucosal traumatic ulcer in rat.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach for the healing of ulcerative lesions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PDT using indocyanine green (ICG) in the healing of the experimentally induced oral mucosal traumatic ulcer in rat. Sixty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were recruited in this experimental study. The ulceration was surgically made in the left cheek mucosa, and the rats were randomly assigned into four equal groups (n = 15). Oral ulcers in groups 1 and 2 were treated with the sterile saline solution (0.9%) and ICG (1 mg/ml). In group 3, laser irradiation was applied using the 810 nm diode laser in the continuous-wave mode for 30 s (light dose: 55 J/cm2, power: 300 mW, spot size: 4.5 mm). Following the topical application of ICG (1 mg/ml) in group 4, laser irradiation was performed in the same way as the previous group. After 24 h, treatments were repeated once more in all groups. The healing process was histopathologically assessed at the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days after ulceration. Wound healing was significantly accelerated in the ICG-mediated PDT group in comparison to the control group at all sampling time points (p < 0.005). However, the other groups displayed a similar healing rate (p > 0.05). Data suggest that ICG-mediated PDT has the potential to accelerate wound healing and prevent clinical infection in oral mucosal traumatic ulcers. However, further studies are required to confirm whether our results can be generalized to other wounds.

Expression of nucleostemin in odontogenic cysts and tumors.

Considering the unique clinical behavior of odontogenic cysts and tumors, this study aimed to assess the expression of nucleostemin in odontogenic cysts and tumors by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. This retrospective study evaluated 50 samples including 13 samples of unicystic ameloblastoma (UA), 10 samples of solid ameloblastoma (SA), 10 samples of odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) and 17 samples of dentigerous cyst (DC) by IHC staining. The stained slides were evaluated under a light microscope. Number of positively stained cells for nucleostemin marker was counted in five random areas per 100 cells under x400 magnification. The labeling index (LI) for nucleostemin was calculated by dividing the number of positively stained cells by the total number of counted cells in each lesion multiplied by 100. Positive staining for nucleostemin marker was observed in 100% of SA,100% of UA, 100% of OKC and 5 samples of DC (29.4%). The LI for nucleostemin marker in SA (median: 70.5), UA (median: 50) and OKC (median: 52) samples was significantly higher than that in DC (median: 0.00) (P = .001). This study showed an increased expression of nucleostemin in ameloblastoma and OKC, which suggests that stemness may be related to development of these lesions, their invasive behavior and high rate of recurrence.

Evaluation of the serum levels of galectin-3 in patients with oral lichen planus disease.

OBJECTIVES: Galectin-3, a member of beta-galactoside-binding proteins, can be found in cytoplasm and nucleus as well as extracellularly in various tissues and involved in many physiological and pathological processes. We aimed to measure the serum levels of galectin-3 in oral lichen planus (OLP) disease and compare the result with that observed in healthy ones. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, the serum levels of galectin-3 were measured in 56 healthy individuals and 53 pathologically proven OLP patients including those with atrophic/erosive (33 cases) or reticular (20 cases) lesions, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Compared with healthy individuals (1.1 ± 0.4 ng/ml), galectin-3 serum levels in patients with OLP (3.1 ± 1.1 ng/ml) were significantly elevated (p < 0.0001). Serum galectin-3 levels were elevated significantly in patients with atrophic/erosive lesions compared to those of reticular (3.9 ± 2.1 ng/ml vs. 1.9 ± 1.4 ng/ml, p = 0.001), but it has not associated with age and gender. CONCLUSIONS: The elevation of galectin-3 in OLP is a future tool to increase the knowledge about the possible etiology of the disease and may be helpful to differentiate atrophic/erosive lesions from reticular ones. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study evaluated the serum galectin-3 levels in OLP.

Healing acceleration of oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil with Pistacia atlantica (bene) essential oil in hamsters.

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis is a common debilitating condition in patients with cancer receiving cytotoxic therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of topical administrations of the essential oil extracted from hull of Pistacia atlantica fruit (bene) on healing of oral mucositis in golden hamsters. METHODS: Forty hamsters with oral mucositis induced by 5-fluorouracil administered on days 0, 5 and 10 and buccal mucosal scratching were randomly divided into four equal groups: group 1 received no additional treatment, group 2 received gel base, and groups 3 and 4 received gels containing 5% and 10% oil, respectively. From day 12, after blood sampling of all animals, a half randomly selected fraction of each group (four half groups) received once-daily topical administration of either gel type (gel base, 5% and 10%) or no treatment (control subgroup) over the buccal pouches for 3 days and the remaining halves received the same treatments for 6 days. On each final day 15 and 18, the corresponding subgroups underwent consecutively the repeated blood sampling, mucosal clinical examination and excision for histopathology. RESULTS: Comparisons on macro- and microscopical oral mucositis scorings demonstrated dose-dependent healing promotion in the subgroups receiving active gels (P < 0.05). The blood samplings revealed the chemotherapy-related pancytopenia with no significant difference among all subgroups on either end point (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The healing effect of the bene oil could mainly be local and attributed to its antioxidants and fatty acid contents present in non-saponified and saponified fractions, respectively.

Clinical implication of CD166 expression in salivary gland tumor.

CD166 is a glycoprotein of immunoglobulin superfamily of adhesion molecules which is overexpressed in many tumors. However, no published literature was found concerning CD166 expression in salivary gland tumor. The purpose of this study was to examine the CD166 expression in the salivary gland tumor by an immunohistochemical approach, to examine the clinical implication of this marker in the prognosis and diagnosis of the salivary gland tumor. In this study, 45 samples of salivary tumors from Khalili Hospital archive including 15 cases of pleomorphic adenoma, 16 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 14 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma, and 15 normal salivary glands were selected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) method staining for CD166. CD166 immunoreactivity in malignant tumors (adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC)) (56.7 ± 14.05) was significantly higher than that of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) (34.3 ± 17.07) (P < 0.000) and higher in the PA than normal salivary gland (13.2 ± 12.1) (P = 0.001). CD166 expression was significantly higher in the high-grade tumors (90.3 ± 11.07) compared to low-grade (65.11 ± 27.08) malignant tumors (P = 0.002). CD166 expression showed a significant association with tumor size and the clinical stage (P < 0.001). In conclusion, an overexpression of CD166 was detected in the benign and malignant salivary gland tumors and its expression in the malignant tumor was associated with the aggressive behavior and tumor progression. For this reason, CD166 may be one of the potential biomarkers for predicting tumor behavior in the prognosis of this disease.

Altered oxidative status and integrin expression in cyclosporine A-treated oral epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive agent administered to transplant patients. A well-known reported oral side effect of CsA consumption is gingival overgrowth (GO). Changes in the expression of integrins occurring in the gingiva following CsA treatment have been reported but these reports are mainly concerned with the connective tissue of the gingiva. In this study we targeted the alterations in the oral epithelium using KB cells, an oral epithelial cell line. METHODS: Cultured oral epithelial cells were treated with increasing concentrations of CsA (0.1, 1 and 10 µg/mL) and the molecular changes involving antioxidant enzymes [glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR)] and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess the expression of selected integrins (α2, α5 and ß1). RESULTS: At CsA concentration above 0.1 µg/mL GPx demonstrated an increase in activity while GR activity and the level of reduced glutathione were diminished (p < 0.05). α5 and ß1 integrin were downregulated at all treatment concentrations of CsA while α2 integrin presented this effect at concentrations above 1 µg/mL (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest a possible role for oxidative stress and the altered expression of integrins in the pathology of CsA-induced gingival overgrowth.

Upregulation of serum vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-3 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known as a fundamental regulator of angiogenesis that accelerates cellular proliferation, vascular permeability, and endothelial cell migration and is an inhibitor of apoptosis. Extracellular matrix degradation by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) is necessary for endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis. Accordingly, the objective of the present study was to determine the circulating levels of VEGF and MMP3 and their relation in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Using an ELISA kit, the circulating levels of VEGF and MMP-3 in the sera of 45 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 45 healthy controls were assessed. Mean VEGF levels in the sera of patients with OSCC (122.4 ± 36.1) were significantly higher than those in controls (65.3 ± 23.4); however, no relation was found between VEGF levels and clinicopathologic factors. The serum MMP-3 level in OSCC patients was significantly higher (9.45 ± 4.6 ng/ml, n=45) than that in healthy controls (5.9 ± 3.6 ng/ml, n=45). There was no correlation in serum MMP-3 concentration with clinicopathologic features such as tumor stage, tumor size, nodal status, and histological grade. A significant relationship was found between serum levels of VEGF and MMP3. This study concludes that VEGF and MMP3 may have a potential role in the pathogenesis of OSCC but cannot be used as a tool for monitoring tumor progression. Moreover, the role of VEGF in the regulation of angiogenesis is in part due to activation of MMP-3.

Serum levels of osteopontin as a prognostic factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional glycophosphoprotein that was detected in many carcinomas, and it may have a prognostic role. The aim of this study was to determine osteopontin serum levels in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and investigated its correlation with clinicopathological features of tumor. Using an ELISA kit, we assessed and compared the circulating levels of OPN in blood serum of 45 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients with 45 healthy control samples. The serum osteopontin level in patients with OSCC was significantly higher (145.8 ± 14.6 ng/ml, n = 45) compared with the healthy controls (53.9 ± 9.6 ng/ml, n = 45, p < 0.001). Mean serum osteopontin level was significantly higher in patients with nodal metastasis (p = 0.03) and higher stage (p = 0.02). Findings of the present study suggest that OPN may have a potential role in pathogenesis of OSCC and it may be used as a tool for monitoring tumor progression.

Evaluation of the relationship between the expression of AgNOR and Ki67 with the recurrence rate in central granulomatous giant cell lesions: A case-control.

OBJECTIVES: Giant cell granuloma is a local nonneoplastic lesion that is divided into two categories, based on its site of occurrence: Central and peripheral giant cell granuloma. Central giant cell granuloma is an intraosseous lesion that has a tendency to recure even in surgically treated cases. Several studies have proven that there is an association between different lesions clinical behavior and their histological features. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of AgNOR and Ki67 in lesions with and without recurrency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Files and records of 35 patients who had been histologically diagnosed with central giant cell granuloma were investigated. Histological features were studied after performing AgNOR staining and Ki67 marker. The data were analyzed by chi-square, Fisher, and T-test. RESULTS: Acquired data indicated that the count of AgNOR staining and Ki67 marker was significantly higher in lesions with recurrency than the lesions with no recurrency. The same results were attained from Ki67 intensity. CONCLUSION: The current study indicated that AgNOR staining and Ki67 marker have prognostic value in predicting recurrency of central giant cell granuloma lesions.

Evaluation of Paxillin Expression in Odontogenic Cysts and Tumors.

Statement of the Problem: Paxillin (PXN) is one of the proteins involved in cell adhesion. PXN and integrins constitute a key site for the focal adhesion between the cell and extracellular matrix. Several studies have shown that PXN is a factor in tumor formation, progression, invasion, and metastasis. Purpose: This study evaluated PXN expression in four types of odontogenic lesions with different aggressive behaviors. Materials and Method: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, PXN expression was immunohistochemically assessed in 68 paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients with the confirmed diagnosis of four types of odontogenic lesions, including 14 dentigerous cysts (DC), 20 odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), 16 unicystic ameloblastoma, and 18 solid ameloblastoma. The PXN expression in these samples were scored based on the percentage and intensity of immunoreactivity, and compared among the groups by Chi-square test. Results: The PXN marker was detected in the cytoplasm of tumor cells (unicystic and solid ameloblastoma) and the epithelial layer of cysts (DC and OKC). The intensively stained marker of PXN was observed in 9 cases (64.3%) of the DC, 14 cases (70%) of OKC, 12 cases (75%) of unicystic ameloblastoma, and 13 cases (72.2%) of solid ameloblastoma. However, there was not statistical difference of PXN protein expression between DC and OKC (p Value = 0.51) and unicystic and solid ameloblastoma (p = 0.58), also the same was true for cysts and tumors (p = 0.37). Conclusion: The expression of PXN is not related to the biological behaviors of odontogenic lesions.

Bone repair potential of collagen-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)-carbon nanotubes scaffold loaded with mesenchymal stem cells for the reconstruction of critical-sized mandibular defects.

The poor structural stability of collagen (COL) upon hydration poses a significant challenge in tissue engineering (TE). To overcome this limitation, the incorporation of hydrophobic polymers such as poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), and nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been explored. In this study, we investigated the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of COL-based scaffolds modified with PHB and CNTs for bone tissue engineering (BTE) applications. The tensile strength analysis revealed a substantial improvement in the ultimate tensile strength with the addition of 10 % PHB and 4 % CNTs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images depicted a denser and more compact structure resulting from the presence of PHB and CNTs, enhancing the scaffold's mechanical properties. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful incorporation of PHB and CNTs into the composite scaffold, maintaining the chemical integrity of COL. Stereological studies also conducted in a rat model with induced critical-sized bone defects in the mandibular bone further emphasize the substantial increase in bone formation and reduction in defect volume achieved by the scaffold loaded with stem cells. These findings underscore the promising approach to enhance bone healing, using COL-based scaffolds loaded with stem cells, and the favorable results obtained in this study can contribute to the advancement of BTE strategies.

Profile of Serum Heat Shock Protein-27 Level in Patients with Salivary Gland Tumor.

Statement of the Problem: Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) plays important roles in many cellular processes and has been implicated in different types of diseases such as cancers. Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the serum level of HSP27 in patients with salivary gland tumors and to determine its possible correlation with the prognosis of the disease. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on 60 patients with sali-vary gland tumor including 16 pleomorphic adenoma, 33 adenoid cystic carcinoma, 6 mu-coepidermoid carcinoma, 5 acinic cell carcinoma, and 28 healthy control subjects. The con-trol cases were healthy blood donors who matched the study group in age and sex. Serum samples were obtained from the clotted blood and HSP27concentrations were measured with sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis was performed by using one-way ANOVA, post Hoc test, independent sample t-test, and ROC analysis. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The mean serum level of HSP27 was 3956.1±3830.1 (pg/ml) in patients with malig-nant salivary gland tumor, which was significantly higher than that in benign salivary gland tumor (752.2±485.6) and healthy controls (602.3±575.8) (p <0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the HSP27 serum levels between the patients with benign salivary gland tumors and healthy controls (p= 0.2). No association was detected between the mean serum levels of HSP27 and clinicopathologic factors such as age, sex, stage and nodal metas-tasis (p > 0.05), except for the tumor size (p= 0.04). Conclusion: The HSP27 concentration increased in patients with malignant salivary gland tumors. Moreover, the HSP27 level was correlated with tumor growth, invasiveness, and diagnosability. Yet, larger clinical studies are required to explore its prognostic value.

Sociodemographic and etiological differences of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in young and old patients in southern Iran.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is typically seen in middle-aged to elderly men but, recently, is increasing in young adults. The aim of this study was to compare the demographic and etiological data of young and old patients with HNSCC in southern Iran. Patients with HNSCC were divided into 2 groups: the young (or=50 y old). Both groups showed male predilection. The nasopharynx was the most common site in the young group (68.5%), whereas the oral cavity (40%) was the most common site in the old group. In the young group, 68.4% showed none of the usual risk factors. The results suggest that factors other than tobacco and alcohol may be implicated in the development of HNSCC in young patients in southern Iran.

Glypican-3 Expression in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant neoplasm that affects the structures or tissues of mouth. Early diagnosis of these tumors is important to improve the outcome of treatment. Therefore, using pathological techniques based on molecular markers may be useful for optimal diagnosis and treatment. Glypican-3 (GPC3) is involved in regulation of cell proliferation and morphogenesis and is abundant during embryogenesis and organogenesis but is limited in most of adult tissues. GPC3 overexpression has a role in carcinogenesis. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate GPC3 expression in the non-neoplastic oral epithelium and oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, 45 patients with OSCC (30 males and 15 females) with a mean age of 52.3 selected from Oral Pathology Department of Shiraz Dental School were enrolled. The control group was consisted of 15 cases of normal oral epithelium. Glypican-3 expression was assessed by using immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: Non neoplastic tissues were GPC3 negative. Frequency of GPC3 positivity in tumoral tissues was recorded as 73.3% (33 cases) which was significantly higher than non-neoplastic tissues (p< 0.001).The clinicopathologic features of GPC3 expression demonstrated no association with clinicopathologic parameters except tumor size. CONCLUSION: GPC3 was over expressed at protein level in oral squamous cell carcinoma, but its potential use for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes requires further investigation.

Effect of Topical 2% Eucalyptus Extract on 5-FU-Induced Oral Mucositis in Male Golden Hamsters.

Oral mucositis is a common inflammatory complication among patients with cancer. This study evaluated the histopathological, stereological, and antioxidant markers of 2% eucalyptus extract in induced oral mucositis in male golden hamsters. In this animal study, oral mucositis was induced in 30 male golden hamsters by 5-FU (60 mg/kg) on days 0, 5, and 10 of the study. The cheek pouch was scratched with a sterile needle once daily on days 3 and 4. On days 14-17, 2% eucalyptus hydroalcoholic extract gel and Calendula officinalis extract gel groups were treated and then compared with a non-treated control group. The histopathological and stereological scores and the pouch content of malondialdehyde, as well as the activities of glutathione and myeloperoxidase in the pouch tissue, were evaluated. Histopathologic scores of oral mucositis were lower in the eucalyptus gel group than those of the calendula and control groups (p<0.05). Also, a lower malondialdehyde level and higher myeloperoxidase and glutathione activities were detected in the eucalyptus group in comparison to the calendula and control groups (p<0.001). The thickness of the mucosa and submucosa increased in the eucalyptus group. The numerical density of the fibroblast and the volume density of the collagen significantly increased in the eucalyptus group. In conclusion, the use of eucalyptus hydroalcoholic extract may be associated with reduced intensity of oral mucositis, diminished concentration of malondialdehyde, increased activity of myeloperoxidase and glutathione, increased volume of mucosa and submucosa, increased fibroblast and collagen in the induced oral mucositis in golden hamsters undergoing 5-FU consumption.

The effects of adipose tissue-derived stem cells seeded onto the curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold in healing of experimentally- induced oral mucosal ulcers in rat.

OBJECTIVES: Various therapeutic approaches, including stem-cell-based strategies and tissue engineering, have been proposed for oral ulcerative lesions. We investigated the effects of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) seeded onto the curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold in the mucosal healing of oral ulcers in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The current experimental study was conducted on 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Oral ulcers were created over both sides of buccal mucosa, and the rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: 1) an untreated group (negative control); 2) Teriadent-treated group (positive control); 3) group treated with curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold; and 4) group received the ADSCs (3 × 106 cells) seeded onto the curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold. Rats were sacrificed on 3rd and 7th day after ulceration for histopathological examination as well as measurement of tissue levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) activity. RESULTS: Compared with the negative control, the tissue levels of MPO and IL-1ß were significantly decreased in all treated groups (P<0.0001); however, the SOD activity was elevated (P<0.0001). The highest SOD activity as well as the lowest MPO and IL-1ß levels were observed in the ADSCs-curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold group. The ulcer healing process at 3rd and 7th day follow-up was much more progressed in the ADSCs-curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold group in comparison with the untreated group (P=0.037 and P=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this study, ADSCs seeded onto the curcumin-loaded collagen scaffold seems to have a promising potential for oral ulcer healing applications.

Expression of Paxillin in Benign and Malignant Salivary Gland Tumors.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Paxillin is a major cytoskeletal protein aberrantly deregulated in various human cancers and involved in tumor growth and invasion. However, the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of paxillin in salivary gland tumors (SGTs) is still unclear. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between paxillin expression and clinicopathological features of patients with SGTs. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In this retrospective study, 50 paraffin-embedded tissue samples which were histologically confirmed as benign (pleomorphic adenoma, PA) or malignant (mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), adenoid cystic carcinoma, ACC) SGTs, and 19 specimens from those with normal salivary gland (NSG) as a control group were assessed for paxillin expression using the immunohistochemistry. The paxillin expression in our samples was scored based on the extent and intensity of immunoreactivity and compared with histological type, clinical stage, and distant metastasis. RESULTS: High paxillin expression was identified in 66% of SGTs whereas all patients with NSG showed low expression (p< 0.0001). Although the expression of paxillin in patients with benign and malignant tumors is similar, there is a significant difference between patients with PA, MEC, and ACC with that of the NSG (p< 0.0001). Paxillin expression was not correlated with clinicopathological features of patients. CONCLUSION: High expression of paxillin was observed in tumoral tissues compared with the controls that establish an important role of paxillin in SGTs but its prognostic role was unclear and need further evaluation.

Evaluation of Glypican-3 expression in benign and malignant salivary gland tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is involved in regulation of cell proliferation and morphogenesis. It is abundant in embryonic tissue, but limited in most adult tissues. GPC3 deletion or mutation can disturb the balance between cell apoptosis and proliferation, which may result in tumorigenesis. This study aimed to investigate the GPC3 expression in salivary gland tumors (SGTs) and the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. METHODS: This study reviewed 50 samples of salivary tumors from the archive of Khalili Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, including 17 cases of pleomorphic adenoma (PA), 16 cases of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), and 17 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC); as well as a control group of 23 cases of normal salivary gland tissues. GPC3 expression was investigated through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: GPC3 expression was significantly higher in malignant tumors (MEC and ACC) than in PA, and higher in PA than in the normal salivary glands (P < 0.001). The expression intensity was moderate to strong in malignant tumors and weak to moderate in benign tumors. No strong positivity was observed in normal salivary gland tissues (P < 0.001). Nor was any association detected between the GPC3 expression and intensity with the clinicopathologic parameters. CONCLUSION: Although GPC3 overexpression was observed at the protein level in SGTs, and its expression was not related with the clinicopathologic factors, the potential use of GPC3 for diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic purposes requires further investigations.

Epidemiology of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity in Iran.

Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 90% of oral malignancies. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in southern Iran in relation to sex, age, subsite distribution, and histologic differentiation of the tumor. Pathologic records of patients with a histologic diagnosis of OSCC at Fars Cancer Registry of Nemazee Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during the period of April 1992 through March 2007 were reviewed. Among 11,220 cases of cancer registered during this period, 200 cases were OSCC (1.7%). The age range of patients was 4 to 87 years (mean, 56.9 years; SD, 15.5 years), with a 1.4:1 male-female ratio. Oral squamous cell carcinoma occurred more frequently in patients older than 60 years. The tongue was the most commonly affected site (53%), followed by the buccal mucosa (9.5%) and maxillary gingiva (9%). The well-differentiated type (55.5%) was the most common, with the poorly differentiated OSCC being the least common (7.5%). The present study showed that OSCC was the most common malignancy in the tongue and buccal mucosa being more common in older age and male sex.