OBJECTIVES: The authors recently demonstrated that extensive bone erosion correlated with a worse prognosis of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the temporal bone. The present objective was to investigate the expressions and the roles of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SCC of the temporal bone. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective patient file review and immunohistochemical study of tissues of patients with SCC of the temporal bone. PATIENTS: The authors examined the expressions of vimentin in 16 patients with SCC of the temporal bone by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: As expected, vimentin was expressed on SCC of the temporal bone. We regard the patient who has vimentin-positive cells as EMT-positive patient because gain of vimentin is a hallmark in the EMT reported in several types of cancer. EMT positive tumors significantly correlated with extensive bone erosion, and extensive bone erosion correlated with a worse prognosis of the SCC of the temporal bone. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that EMT in tumor cells becomes an important indicator of poor prognosis in SCC of the temporal bone.
OBJECTIVES: The authors recently demonstrated that extensive bone erosion correlated with a worse prognosis of the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the temporal bone. The present objective was to investigate the expressions and the roles of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SCC of the temporal bone. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective patient file review and immunohistochemical study of tissues of patients with SCC of the temporal bone. PATIENTS: The authors examined the expressions of vimentin in 16 patients with SCC of the temporal bone by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: As expected, vimentin was expressed on SCC of the temporal bone. We regard the patient who has vimentin-positive cells as EMT-positive patient because gain of vimentin is a hallmark in the EMT reported in several types of cancer. EMT positive tumors significantly correlated with extensive bone erosion, and extensive bone erosion correlated with a worse prognosis of the SCC of the temporal bone. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest that EMT in tumor cells becomes an important indicator of poor prognosis in SCC of the temporal bone.