Alteration of integrin expression in oral squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the intensity of expression of beta 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, alpha 6 integrin subunits in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) as opposed to normal oral epithelium, and the intensity of expression and distribution pattern of the above subunits in relation to tumour differentiation grade.


METHODS
Cryostat sections of 25 cases of oral SCC and 15 cases of normal oral epithelium were studied by immunohistochemistry (APAAP method).


RESULTS
The intensity of expression of beta 1, alpha 2 (Pearson chi 2 P < 0.001) and alpha 6 (Test for Trend P < 0.05) integrin subunits was reduced significantly in SCC compared to normal oral epithelium. All integrin subunits were mainly expressed in the peripheral cell layer of tumour islands. No correlation was found between the intensity of integrin expression and the degree of differentiation in SCC. The same applied to the distribution pattern of the integrin subunits. By means of cross examination of all integrins, the loss of intensity of alpha 2 beta 1 integrin expression was found to have the strongest correlation with oral SCC (Ordered Logistic Regression).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced intensity of expression of all subunits was found in oral SCC compared to normal epithelium. Further investigation is needed to determine whether alpha 2 beta 1 integrin expression can be used as a prognostic evaluator for the behaviour of the disease.
Maragou
P
P
University of Athens, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral Pathology & Surgery, Greece.
Bazopoulou-Kyrkanidou
E
E
Panotopoulou
E
E
Kakarantza-Angelopoulou
E
E
Sklavounou-Andrikopoulou
A
A
Kotaridis
S
S
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019012:Integrin beta1; D016023:Integrins