title: HOXB5 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: Human HOX genes encode transcription factors that act as master regulators of embryonic development. They are important in several processes such as cellular morphogenesis and differentiation. The HOXB5 gene in particular has been reported in some types of neoplasm, but not in oral cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study investigated the expression of HOXB5 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and in non-tumoral adjacent tissues, focusing on verifying its possible role as a broad tumor-associated gene and its association with histopathological and clinical (TNM) characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  RT-PCR was performed to amplify HOXB5 mRNA in 15 OSCCs and adjacent non-tumoral epithelium. A possible association with TNM and histopathologic data was verified by the chi-square and post-hoc t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HOXB5 was amplified in 60% non-tumoral epithelium and in 93.3% carcinomas. No statistically significant differences were found regarding the HOXB5 mRNA expression and TNM or histological grade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HOXB5 is expressed in OSCCs and its role in cancer progression should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Research, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. renata-tucci@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Marcia Sampaio
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Luciana Fasanella
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Matizonkas-Antonio
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durazzo
authors.forename: Décio dos Santos
authors.initials: Ddos S
authors.lastname: Pinto Junior
authors.forename: Fabio Daumas
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C489126:HOXB5 protein, human; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger