title: Decrease in mast cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma: possible failure in the migration of these cells.
abstract: It is becoming accepted that multiple cell types in stromal microenvironment are involved in tumorigenesis. In this setting, mast cells (MC) display a diversity of roles that may contribute to the defense against tumors or tumor progression. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate density and migration of MCs in OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma) and pre-malignant oral hyperkeratosis (leukoplakia) as well as their relationship with clinical and microscopic parameters. The tryptase and c-kit expression was analyzed in 38 cases of OSCC, 26 cases of leukoplakia, and 12 cases of clinically healthy oral mucosa (control) by means of immunohistochemistry. The tryptase(+) cell numbers were decreased in OSCC (P=0.0003) and leukoplakia (P=0.03) compared with control. Similar numbers of tryptase(+) cells were observed in leukoplakia and OSCC (P=0.31). The density of c-kit(+) MCs was also significantly lower in OSCC and leukoplakia in relation to control resulting in a reduced c-kit(+)/tryptase(+) relationship in OSCC (19%) in comparison with leukoplakia (59%) and control (63%). No correlation was observed between MC populations with clinical and microscopic characteristics of OSCC. Our findings suggest that the decrease in MC numbers in pre-malignant and malignant oral lesions may be related to the migration failure of these cells, possibly reflecting an important modification in the microenvironment during tumor initiation and progression.
authors.affiliation: Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), 74810-230 Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helenisa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Neto
authors.forename: Angélica Ferreira
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Nádia Lago
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Rita Cássia
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.forename: Vanessa Soares
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lara
authors.forename: Tarcília Aparecida
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Claudio Rodrigues
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Leles
authors.forename: Francisco Elismauro
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Mendonça
authors.forename: Aline Carvalho
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Batista
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D053802:Tryptases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D053802:Tryptases