BACKGROUND: Patients with clinical stage I/II (T1-2N0M0) oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) usually undergo partial glossectomy alone. However, 14-48% of them develop delayed neck metastasis (DNM), which may lead to an unfavorable course. Recently epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been thought to play a crucial role in cancer metastasis. The present study aimed to examine the associations of EMT-involved molecular factors and clinicopathological factors with DNM in stage I/II TSCC. METHODS: mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin and its transcriptional repressors (snail, SIP1, and twist) in 7 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Clinicopathological parameters and immunohistochemical expressions of E-cadherin and its repressors were examined in surgical specimens of 37 stage I/II TSCC patients who underwent partial glossectomy alone. RESULTS: In HNSCC cells, E-cadherin expression was inversely correlated with SIP1 expression (P = 0.023). Univariate analysis of immunohistochemistry showed that overexpression of SIP1 and loss of E-cadherin were significantly correlated with DNM, although no inverse correlation was found between E-cadherin and its repressors. Multiple logistic regression analysis including clinicopathological and molecular factors revealed that overexpression of SIP1 (P = 0.005), loss of E-cadherin (P = 0.046), and vascular invasion (P = 0.024) were independently correlated with DNM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that development of DNM in stage I/II TSCC is closely related to induction of EMT in primary tumor cells. Especially, SIP1 and E-cadherin are considered to be the possible markers for selecting patients at high risk of DNM.
BACKGROUND:Patients with clinical stage I/II (T1-2N0M0) oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) usually undergo partial glossectomy alone. However, 14-48% of them develop delayed neck metastasis (DNM), which may lead to an unfavorable course. Recently epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been thought to play a crucial role in cancer metastasis. The present study aimed to examine the associations of EMT-involved molecular factors and clinicopathological factors with DNM in stage I/II TSCC. METHODS: mRNA expression levels of E-cadherin and its transcriptional repressors (snail, SIP1, and twist) in 7 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Clinicopathological parameters and immunohistochemical expressions of E-cadherin and its repressors were examined in surgical specimens of 37 stage I/II TSCC patients who underwent partial glossectomy alone. RESULTS: In HNSCC cells, E-cadherin expression was inversely correlated with SIP1 expression (P = 0.023). Univariate analysis of immunohistochemistry showed that overexpression of SIP1 and loss of E-cadherin were significantly correlated with DNM, although no inverse correlation was found between E-cadherin and its repressors. Multiple logistic regression analysis including clinicopathological and molecular factors revealed that overexpression of SIP1 (P = 0.005), loss of E-cadherin (P = 0.046), and vascular invasion (P = 0.024) were independently correlated with DNM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that development of DNM in stage I/II TSCC is closely related to induction of EMT in primary tumor cells. Especially, SIP1 and E-cadherin are considered to be the possible markers for selecting patients at high risk of DNM.
Authors: Dong Jin Lee; Mi Jung Kwon; Eun Sook Nam; Ji Hyun Kwon; Jin Hwan Kim; Young-Soo Rho; Hyung Sik Shin; Seong Jin Cho Journal: Korean J Pathol Date: 2013-06-25
Authors: Shaofeng Yan; Britt M Holderness; Zhongze Li; Gregory D Seidel; Jiang Gui; Jan L Fisher; Marc S Ernstoff Journal: Anticancer Res Date: 2016-12 Impact factor: 2.480