ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of CD24, CD44, CD133, ALDH1, CD29 (integrin-ß1), and Ki-67 in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx. STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-two tumors and 21 metastatic lymph nodes were evaluated by using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Seven of 52 cases (13.5%) showed positive cytoplasmic staining of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1; integrin-ß1 was expressed in 45 of 50 cases (90%); 30 of 52 cases (57.7%) had positive membranous staining of CD44; CD24 was expressed in 44 of 50 cases (88%); and three of 52 cases (5.8%) stained positively for membranous CD133. Median proliferation rate, measured by Ki-67, was 37.1% for tumors. Five-year cancer-specific survival rates for the CD44-negative and CD44-positive groups were 74% and 38%, respectively, although this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = .052). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated the expression of putative stem cell markers in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx, with participation of CD44-positive cells in association with poor survival outcome.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism , Mouth Neoplasms/metabolism , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/metabolism , Stem Cells/metabolism , AC133 Antigen/metabolism , Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family , CD24 Antigen/metabolism , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology , Female , Humans , Hyaluronan Receptors/metabolism , Immunohistochemistry , Integrin beta1/metabolism , Isoenzymes/metabolism , Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplasm Staging , Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology , Retinal Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Survival RateABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is primarily a locoregional disease in which the cervical lymph nodes are the chief site of metastasis. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and clinicopathological aspects of HNSCC and its metastasis. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with HNSCC and metastatic lymph nodes from 21 of these subjects were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The HNSCC samples were predominantly negative for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C, VEGF-D, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)3. There was an association between the density of lymph vessels (measured by D2-40 staining) in the lymph nodes and advanced-stage tumors. There was no link between the expression of these proteins and survival rates. CONCLUSION: Although lymphatic spread is a significant event in the progression of HNSCC, the expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D, and VEGFR3 does not correlate with clinicopathological characteristics, suggesting that other signaling pathways mediate lymphangiogenesis in HNSCC.