Clinical significance of osteopontin expression in T1 and T2 tongue cancers.
BACKGROUND
Osteopontin (OPN) is considered to be a tumor-related protein associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis.


METHODS
Immunohistochemistry was used to study the clinical significance of OPN expression in T1 and T2 tongue cancers.


RESULTS
Positive OPN expression significantly correlated with higher tumor classification (T) (p = .004), positive nodal classification (N) (p < .001), greater tumor thickness (p < .001), and presence of tumor necrosis (p = .016), respectively. The unfavorable cumulative 5-year disease-free survival rate significantly correlated with positive OPN expression (p < .001), T2 (p = .024), positive N (p < .001), greater tumor thickness (p = .023), and positive tumor necrosis (p = .003). However, taking CD105 into consideration, only CD105 expression was the independent prognostic factor for survival by Cox's regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Overexpression of OPN in the tumors implicated a more aggressive tumor behavior and was an important factor for survival. In addition, there might be relationship between OPN and CD105 expressions in angiogenesis.
Chien
Chih-Yen
CY
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Su
Chih-Ying
CY
Chuang
Hui-Ching
HC
Fang
Fu-Min
FM
Huang
Hsuan-Ying
HY
Chen
Ching-Mei
CM
Chen
Chang-Han
CH
Huang
Chao-Cheng
CC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
D015415:Biomarkers; D053495:Osteopontin