A role for the substance P/NK-1 receptor complex in cell proliferation in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the presence and distribution of substance P (SP) and neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and their relationship with proliferation.


METHODS
Ninety OSCCs from 73 patients were immunohistochemically analyzed using monoclonal antibodies against SP, NK-1R and Ki-67 in a case and control study.


RESULTS
Seventy-one percent (n=49) of cases expressed SP on tumour cell membrane, 81.3% (n=69) in cytoplasm, 39.4% (n=28) in nucleus, 81.6% (n=71) in infiltrating lymphocytes, and 58.1% (n=43) in peritumoural or intratumoural blood vessels; 14% (n=12) of cases expressed NK-1R on tumour cell membrane, 50% (n=43) in cytoplasm, 48.3% (n=42) in infiltrating lymphocytes and 22.5% (n=18) in tumour blood vessels. All cases expressed Ki-67, which was expressed in >25% of tumour cells in 79.8% of cases (n=63). Direct significant associations were observed in SP expression between different tissue levels (p<0.01), between SP and NK-1R tumour cell membrane expression (p<0.01), and between joint SP and NK-1R expression in tumour cell cytoplasm and a higher expression of Ki-67 (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The ubiquitous presence of SP strongly suggests a role for SP/NK-1R complex in tumour development and progression and possibly for NK-1R antagonists, such as L-773060, in the management of patients with oral cancer.
Brener
Sylvie
S
Oral Medicine Department, School of Dentistry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
González-Moles
Miguel Angel
MA
Tostes
Denise
D
Esteban
Francisco
F
Gil-Montoya
Jose Antonio
JA
Ruiz-Avila
Isabel
I
Bravo
Manuel
M
Muñoz
Miguel
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism*
D018040:Receptors, Neurokinin-1; D013373:Substance P