title: Expression of Gα12 predicts progression and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinomas in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Expression of Gα12 is found to be associated with cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression of Gα12 protein in 100 specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 45 specimens of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), and 36 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Gα12 labeling indices (LIs, defined as the percentage of positive cells in total cells) increased significantly from NOM (7 ± 11%) through OED (21 ± 20%) to OSCC samples (53 ± 33%, P < 0.001). The higher mean Gα12 LI was significantly associated with OSCCs with larger tumor size (P = 0.003), positive lymph node metastasis (P = 0.002), or more advanced clinical stages (P = 0.003). Positive lymph node metastasis (P = 0.039) and Gα12 LI > 50% (P = 0.009) were identified as independent unfavorable prognosis factors by multivariate analyses with Cox regression model. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier curve showed that OSCC patients with a Gα12 LI > 50% had a significantly poorer cumulative survival than those with a Gα12 LI ≤ 50% (log-rank test, P = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed a stepwise and significant elevation in Gα12 protein expression from NOM through OED to OSCCs, suggesting that overexpression of Gα12 protein may be an early event in oral carcinogenesis and may play a pivotal role in oral cancer development. Moreover, the Gα12 protein can be a biomarker for prediction of the progression of OSCCs and the prognosis of patients with OSCC in Taiwan.
authors: Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Shih-Jung
authors: SJ
authors: Cheng
authors: Yi-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Liu
authors: Shih-Lung
authors: SL
authors: Cheng
authors: Jang-Jaer
authors: JJ
authors: Lee
authors: Hsin-Ming
authors: HM
authors: Chen
authors: Hao-Hueng
authors: HH
authors: Chang
authors: Sang-Heng
authors: SH
authors: Kok
authors: Mark Yen-Ping
authors: MY
authors: Kuo
authors: Chun-Pin
authors: CP
authors: Chiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D063646:Carcinogenesis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D044365:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13 / Q000032:analysis*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D044365:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G12-G13
keywords: G proteins; G-protein-coupled receptor; Gα12; cancer progression; oral cancer; prognosis