Topoisomerase expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma: relationship with cancer stem cells profiles and lymph node metastasis.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between predictive proteins and tumors presenting cancer stem cells (CSCs) profiles in oral tumors is still poorly understood. This study aims to identify the relationship between topoisomerases I, IIα, and IIIα and putative CSCs immunophenotype in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and determine its influence on prognosis.


METHODS
The following data were retrieved from 127 patients: age, gender, primary anatomic site, smoking and alcohol intake, recurrence, metastases, histologic classification, treatment, and survival. An immunohistochemical study for topoisomerases I, IIα, and IIIα was performed in a tissue microarray containing 127 paraffin blocks of OSCCs.


RESULTS
In univariate analysis, topoisomerases expression showed significant differences according to CSCs profiles and p53 immunoexpression, but not with survival. Topoisomerases IIα and IIIα also showed significant relationship with lymph node metastasis. The multivariate test confirmed these associations.


CONCLUSIONS
The results that all topoisomerases correlates with OSCC CSCs may indicate a role for topoisomerases in head and neck carcinogenesis. Notwithstanding, it is plausible that other members of topoisomerases family could represent novel therapeutical targets in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Department of Pathology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. oliveiracostajp@me.com
João Paulo
JP
Oliveira-Costa
Lucinei Roberto
LR
Oliveira
Giórgia Gobbi
GG
da Silveira
Danilo Figueiredo
DF
Soave
Fernando Augusto
FA
Soares
Alfredo
A
Ribeiro-Silva
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate
D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I