Clinical significance of interleukin-6 and interleukin-6 receptor expressions in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6) played a role in tumor development. However, available information about the prognostic significance of IL-6 and IL-6 receptors (IL-6R) for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is limited.


METHODS
Eighty-six patients with OSCC were enrolled. Immunohistochemical staining was used to determine IL-6R expression and in-situ hybridization for IL-6 mRNA transcripts in surgical specimens. Clinicopathologic correlation was evaluated by chi-square test and survival by log rank test.


RESULTS
Expression rates of IL-6R and IL-6 mRNA transcripts in tumor specimens were 73.3% and 54.7%, much higher than those in nontumor mucosa (p <.001). IL-6R overexpression was associated with larger tumors and more advanced histologic grade (p <.05). The presence of IL-6 mRNA transcripts was inversely correlated with distant metastasis, lymph node involvement, and second primary SCC (p <.05) and predicted better survival (p =.007).


CONCLUSIONS
IL-6-IL-6R coexpression was rather high in OSCC, and IL-6 mRNA transcript expression might influence patient survival. The biologic role of IL-6-IL-6R coexpression in OSCC needs additional investigation.
Wang
Yi-Fen
YF
Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei-Veterans General Hospital, 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chang
Shyue-Yih
SY
Tai
Shyh-Kuan
SK
Li
Wing-Yin
WY
Wang
Liang-Shun
LS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016019:Survival Analysis
D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6