Reduction of syndecan-1 expression during lip carcinogenesis.
BACKGROUND
Actinic cheilitis (AC) is an oral pre-cancerous lesion that sometimes develops into lip squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Syndecan-1, a transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycan, modulates cell-proliferation, adhesion, migration and angiogenesis. Malignant epithelial cells often down-regulate their own syndecan-1 production, and are capable of inducing aberrant syndecan-1 expression in stromal cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variations in syndecan-1 expression during lip carcinogenesis, in normal lip (NL), AC and well-differentiated lip SCC.


METHODS
Biopsies of NL vermillion (n = 19), AC (n = 23) and lip SCC (n = 24) were stained immunohistochemically for syndecan-1.


RESULTS
Syndecan-1 expression was significantly reduced in AC and lip SCC as compared to NL (P < 0.05), with a significant reduction in lip SCC as compared to AC (P < 0.0001). In lip SCC lesions, syndecan-1 expression at the epithelium overlying the tumor was increased when compared to the tumor itself (P < 0.03), but was significantly reduced as compared to AC and NL (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that epithelial syndecan-1 expression is reduced as lip carcinogenesis progresses (NL>AC>lip SCC), suggesting that syndecan-1 could be a useful marker of malignant transformation in the lip.
Martínez
A
A
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Concepción, Casilla 2236, Concepción, Chile. almartin@udec.cl
Spencer
M L
ML
Brethauer
U
U
Grez
P
P
Marchesani
F J
FJ
Rojas
I G
IG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002613:Cheilitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008046:Lip / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D053668:Syndecan-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053668:Syndecan-1