Scatter factor receptor (c-Met) as possible prognostic factor in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
This report was performed to study the biological role of c-Met in oral tumorigenesis by analyzing its expression in relation to clinicopathological features. Seventy-three cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 of normal mucosa were analysed for c-Met expression by immunohistochemistry. Normal oral squamous epithelium showed absent or low membranous positivity in the intermediate (malpighian-spinous) layer. Fifty-seven cases (78%) of carcinoma showed immunopositivity, with a prevalently membranous positivity and scattered areas also showing a cytoplasmic localization. Sixteen cases of carcinoma (22%) showed no positivity for c-Met. Among positive tumours, well-differentiated areas showed low or absent cytoplasmic positivity, while low-differentiated areas showed both membranous and cytoplasmic positivity. There was no statistically significant correlation between c-Met expression and sex, recurrence, staging or grading. The frequency of lymph node metastases was higher in c-Met-positive tumours (17/57, 29%) than in c-Met-negative ones (4/16, 25%). When analysed for prognostic significance, patients with negative/reduced c-Met expression had better survival rates than patients with high expression. The difference between survival rates was statistically significant (p<0.05). These data suggest that c-Met expression may be useful to identify cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma with a more aggressive and invasive phenotype.
Lo Muzio
L
L
Institute of Dental Sciences, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy. lomuziol@tin.it
Leonardi
R
R
Mignogna
M D
MD
Pannone
G
G
Rubini
C
C
Pieramici
T
T
Trevisiol
L
L
Ferrari
F
F
Serpico
R
R
Testa
N
N
De Rosa
G
G
Staibano
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met