Bone morphogenetic protein-2/4 and bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IA expression in metastatic and nonmetastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to analyze the expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2/4 (BMP-2/4) and its receptor BMPR-IA (BMP receptor type IA) in metastatic and nonmetastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its implications for disease prognosis.


METHODS
The experimental group included 16 cases of OSCC without metastasis and 7 cases of OSCC with metastasis. The presence or absence of nodal metastasis was used as a parameter for the evaluation of disease prognosis. Ten cases of oral fibroepithelial hyperplasia were selected as the control group. The expression of BMP-2/4 and BMPR-IA was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
In the experimental group with metastasis, strong expression of BMP-2/4 was observed in most cases (71.4%), whereas BMPR-IA exhibited weak expression (85.7%). In the experimental group without metastasis, there was strong expression of BMP-2/4 (62.5%) and BMPR-IA (100%). A significant association was observed between the prognosis of OSCC and the intensity of BMP-2/4 staining (P = .002). Weak immunoreactivity to BMP-2/4 and BMPR-IA was observed in all control specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that strong expression of BMP-2/4, associated with low expression of BMPR-IA, observed in metastatic OSCC has a prognostic value, with the loss of responsiveness to BMPs through the loss of expression of their receptors being indicative of the development of metastasis.
Soares
Andréa Ferreira
AF
Department of Oral Pathology, Dentistry School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal/RN, Brazil.
Xavier
Ruth Lopes de Freitas
RL
da Costa Miguel
Márcia Cristina
MC
de Souza
Lélia Batista
LB
Pinto
Leão Pereira
LP
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I