Fatty Acid Receptor CD36 Functions as a Surrogate Parameter for Lymph Node Metastasis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression pattern of CD36 in a patient population with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to correlate CD36 expression with clinical and histopathological parameters. The hypothesis was that CD36 expression correlates with the occurrence of lymph node metastasis. METHODS: To address the study objectives, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. Study variables included demographic, histopathological and survival data. CD36 expression patterns were assessed by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (TMA). Logistic regression analysis, survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards model were performed. RESULTS: High CD36 expression correlated significantly with a higher T-status, grading and occurrence of lymph node metastasis. The logistic regression with binary N status as a dependent variable showed that high CD36 expression increased the chance for lymph node metastasis 45-fold (OR = 44.7, 95% CI: 10.0-316). Patients with high CD36 expression had lower probabilities of progression-free survival. CD36 had a small and non-significant independent influence on progression-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: CD36 is expressed in OSCC and correlates with tumor grading, T-status, and especially the occurrence of lymph node metastasis. CD36 may be useful for risk stratification regarding lymph node metastasis in OSCC.