[Expression of osteopontin mRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa tissues.


METHODS
Differential OPN gene expression were detected in 30 cancerous tissues and their paired normal tissues using real-time reverse transcription-PCR (real-time RT-PCR), and the data were analyzed statistically.


RESULTS
Real-time RT-PCR results demonstrated that the relative expression level of OPN mRNA in the cancerous tissues were significantly higher than that in paired normal samples (4.17-/+0.51 vs 0.97-/+0.12, P<0.001), showing a 4.3-fold up-regulation. In the 30 OSCC specimens, OPN mRNA expression in the OSCC of histological grades I showed a 3.1-fold down-regulation, significantly lower than the expression in grade II/III tumors (2.16-/+0.17 vs 6.80-/+0.72, P<0.05); its expression was significantly lower in early stage than in advanced stage OSCCs (2.34-/+0.17 vs 4.73-/+0.35, P<0.05). In cases of cervical lymph node metastasis, the expression was significantly higher than that in cases without lymphatic metastasis (6.38-/+0.56 vs 2.89-/+0.32, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
OPN mRNA overexpression may play an important role in OSCC carcinogenesis and can be a potential target for OSCC therapy.
Lu
Xiao-zhi
XZ
Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China. lxzsurgeon@126.com
Yin
Xue-min
XM
Feng
Yuan-yong
YY
Duan
Li-qiong
LQ
Chen
Wan-tao
WT
Zhang
Chen-ping
CP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053495:Osteopontin