Loss of maspin is a negative prognostic factor for invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Maspin, a 42-kDa protein, belongs to the serpin family of protease inhibitors and is known to have tumor-suppressor function. In this study, we investigated the interrelationship between clinicopathologic findings and maspin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).


METHODS
Using immunohistochemical techniques to examine the expression levels of maspin in OSCC, maspin expression in OSCC was detected in 46 (64.8%) of 71 cases. We also compared the clonicopathologic features of OSCC cases with maspin expression levels. Moreover, we examined expression of maspin in eight cell lines derived from OSCC using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.


RESULTS
There was a significant correlation between decreased maspin expression and T-category (P < 0.01), lymph metastasis (P < 0.0001), and mode of invasion (P < 0.0001). Patients with positive maspin expression had a significantly better prognosis (P < 0.001). Lower expression of maspin was also seen in cell lines derived from grade 4D, which shows stronger invasive potential than other grades of OSCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Maspin may be a useful marker to identify the potential for progression in OSCC.
Yoshizawa
Kunio
K
Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan. yoshizawa@oral.m.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Nozaki
Shinichi
S
Okamune
Ayako
A
Kitahara
Hiroko
H
Ohara
Teruhisa
T
Kato
Koroku
K
Kawashiri
Shuichi
S
Yamamoto
Etsuhide
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis*; D015843:Serpins / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C085344:SERPIN-B5; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D015843:Serpins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins