Expression of alpha-dystroglycan correlates with tumour grade and predicts survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Dystroglycan (DG) is a non-integrin adhesion molecule connecting the extracellular matrix to the actin cytoskeleton. Decreased expression of DG has been reported in several human cancers and related to tumour aggressiveness.


METHODS
Expression of the alpha-DG subunit was evaluated by immunostaining in a series of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its relation with traditional prognostic indicators and with the clinical outcome of the patients was evaluated.


RESULTS
Alpha-DG expression was easily detected in normal epithelium with a mean percentage of positive cells >80% but was undetectable in a significant fraction (59%) of OSCC. Loss of alpha-DG staining correlated with higher tumour grade (p = 0.04) and stage (p = 0.01), with nodal involvement (p = 0.001) and with an increased risk of recurrence (p = 0.002) and death (p = 0.004) in a univariate analysis, but it was not confirmed as an independent predictor of clinical outcome in a multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Loss of alpha-DG expression, which corresponds to loss of a functional DG complex, is a frequent event in human OSCC. Further studies are warranted on the role of this molecule in the entire multistep process of oral squamous tumorigenesis.
Sgambato
A
A
Centro di Ricerche Oncologiche Giovanni XXIII-Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome.
Caredda
E
E
Leocata
P
P
Rossi
G
G
Boninsegna
A
A
Vitale
A
A
Grandi
T
T
Cittadini
A
A
Migaldi
M
M
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D049030:Dystroglycans / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C483081:DAG1 protein, human; D049030:Dystroglycans