title: Expression of LEF1 is an independent prognostic factor for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lymphoid-enhancing factor 1 (LEF1) is a transcription factor mediating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In this study, we analyzed the clinicopathologic significance of LEF1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression levels of LEF1 in 135 cases of OSCC were determined by immunohistochemistry. The results were correlated with clinicopathologic parameters and patient outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LEF1 was only occasionally detected in basal and parabasal cells of nontumorous squamous epithelium. Overexpression of LEF1 was observed in 33 of 135 OSCCs (24%). LEF1 was more frequently expressed in moderately to poorly differentiated cancer (p = 0.0035) and was associated with lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.0252). Overexpression of LEF1 was significantly associated with poor prognosis (p = 0.0176, hazard ratio = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.02-3.75). Multivariate analysis revealed LEF1expression and margin status to be the significant independent predictors for overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests LEF1 expression in OSCC may play an important role in tumor progression and can be served as a predictor of poor prognosis for patients with OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Cheng
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fang-I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: chengym@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yung-Ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: dr.cylin@msa.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Chiao-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: C497573:LEF1 protein, human; D051821:Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
keywords: LEF1; immunohistochemistry; oral squamous cell carcinoma; prognosis