title: Expression of hedgehog signaling molecules as a prognostic indicator of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have indicated hedgehog pathway plays a role in carcinogenesis of certain cancers. We investigated the clinical significance of its signaling components, including Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Patched (Ptch), and Gli-1, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  By immunohistochemistry, we determined Shh, Ptch, and Gli-1 expression in surgical specimens from 40 patients with OSCC. The relationship between expression of these molecules and clinicopathologic variables were assessed by chi-square analysis. Statistical difference of survival was compared using log-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ptch overexpression was associated with lymphatic metastasis (p = .028). Nuclear Gli-1 overexpression correlated with primary tumor size (p = .001), lymphatic metastasis (p = .011), and tumor recurrence (p = .008). Overexpression of Ptch (p = .020) or Gli-1 (p = .002) in OSCC indicated poor prognosis in the univariate survival analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway plays an important role in OSCC progression and should be considered a potential therapeutic target.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chin-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shyue-Yih
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Pen-Yuan
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Shyh-Kuan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Wing-Yin
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: K S Clifford
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Yu-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins