title: Prognostic value of cathepsin L and its inhibitor headpin in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of the expression of cathepsin L and its inhibitor headpin, in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical studies were performed on 56 oral squamous cell carcinoma samples. We evaluated the relationship between cathepsin L and headpin expression versus patients' clinicopathological factors and survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group that was positive for cathepsin L expression tended to have positive metastatic neck lymph nodes and a poorer prognosis. Headpin expression was not related to metastasis or prognosis. Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma had higher levels of headpin expression compared with poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cathepsin L expression is related to the invasive and metastatic potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka City, Japan. nakatora@qent.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yasumatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Clayman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Komune
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D056668:Cathepsin L / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015843:Serpins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C530652:SERPINB13 protein, human; D015843:Serpins; D056668:Cathepsin L