Immunohistochemical expression of endothelin protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) plays a significant role in cancer biology and is considered as a potential target for molecular therapy. Alteration of ET-1 was detected in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression and distribution of ET-1 in OSCC and to correlate its expression with the degree of histopathologic differentiation as well as the regional metastatic status of OSCC.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical expression and distribution of ET-1 was evaluated in total number of 30 cases of OSCC. The specimens were retrieved as formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks from the archival files. Detection of ET-1 expression in different grades of metastatic and non-metastatic OSCC was quantified using an image analyzer computer system.


METHODS
Statistical software package SPSS v. 19.


RESULTS
ET-1 immunoreactivity was observed in all studied specimens. On comparing optical density values for ET-1 expression in different grades of OSCC, poorly differentiated OSCC showed a significantly greater expression than moderately differentiated OSCC, which was also significantly greater than well-differentiated OSCC ( P = 0.001). Moreover, ET-1 expression was higher in metastatic OSCC than that in non-metastatic OSCC ( P = 0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased ET-1 expression could enhance the aggressive behavior of poorly differentiated OSCC, especially metastasis. Accordingly, ET-1 could be a therapeutic target in OSCC.
Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt, .
Nader A
NA
Alaizari
Sawsan Naguib
SN
Abdelbary
Nermine Raouf
NR
Amin
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008853:Microscopy; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D019332:Endothelin-1