Integrin expression levels correlate with invasion, metastasis and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The present study evaluated the relationship between alpha 3, alpha 6A, and beta 1 integrin expression in cancer cells at the invasive front of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and survival rates, as well as the clinical and pathological characteristics. Sections of 100 specimens of primary OSCC were immunostained to assess alpha 3, alpha 6A, and beta 1 integrin expression in cancer cells at the invasive front. OSCC patients with higher expression levels of alpha 3, alpha 6A, and beta 1 integrin had significantly better prognosis than those with lower expression levels (median survival at low vs. high expression levels: alpha 3, 37.1 months vs. 55.7 months; alpha 6A , 38.3 months vs. 47.9 months; and beta 1, 26.1 months vs. 46.1 months) (P < 0.05). In addition, beta 1 integrin expression showed the highest correlation with clinical and pathological characteristics. This study concludes that alpha 3, alpha 6A, and beta 1 integrin expression in cancer cells at the invasive front are related to the mode of invasion and prognosis in OSCC.