title: Hh-Gli signaling pathway activity in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine the role of Hh-Gli signaling in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The role of this signaling pathway in SCC formation has not yet been elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four tissue and blood samples were collected from 60 patients with SCC, all tobacco and alcohol users. An additional six buccal mucosa tissue samples were collected from nonsmokers and nondrinkers as control tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hedgehog-Gli pathway components were associated with clinical and pathologic features. Broders' grade and N stage were associated with higher Ptch1 and lower Gli1 expression. Tumor stage was negatively associated with Smo expression, and tumor size was positively associated with p16 expression. Ptch1 and Shh were frequently detected in the surrounding stroma. Ptch1 was found to be correlated with p16 expression, as well as with survivin expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The signaling pathway is activated in SCC and inducible in vitro by Shh protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Osijek, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dinko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leovic
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabol
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ozretic
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Musani
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Car
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marjanovic
authors.forename: Vedran
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zubcic
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sabol
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sikora
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grce
authors.forename: Ljubica
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Glavas-Obrovac
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levanat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1
chemical_list: C400551:GLI1 protein, human; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1