title: Is expression of p120ctn in oral squamous cell carcinomas a prognostic factor?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  p120ctn is a component of the catenin family. To date, there have only been two studies examining expression levels of p120ctn in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffined specimens of 113 OSCCs and 12 of normal mucosa were examined by immunohistochemistry. Frozen samples of 20 OSCCs and 5 of normal mucosa were examined by Western blot (WB). Results were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Five cell lines were examined by immunofluorescence, immunocytochemistry, and WB to show immunoreactivity and cellular localization of p120ctn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altered p120ctn expression was observed in 109/113 cases of OSCC. Heterogenous cytoplasmic/nuclear expression was associated with loss of membranous distribution (88/113 cases). Complete loss of expression was noted in 21/113 cases. Increased cytoplasmic expression was evident in all positive cases, without significant correlation among p120ctn staining/pattern and grading/stage. Reduction/absence of p120ctn expression was related to poor prognosis (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  p120ctn delocalization/loss of expression could be an independent prognostic marker in OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lo Muzio
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pannone
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santarelli
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bambini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mascitti
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubini
authors.forename: Nunzio F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dioguardi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leuci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bascones
authors.forename: Albert B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Maria Addolorata
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mariggiò
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D051177:Catenins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000095002:Delta Catenin
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051177:Catenins; D000095002:Delta Catenin; C000722347:CTNND1 protein, human