title: Expression analysis of SPARC/osteonectin in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients: from saliva to surgical specimen.
abstract: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with approximately 540,000 new cases annually worldwide. The molecular mechanisms related to the pathogenesis of this disease are still poorly understood. The discovery of a molecular marker that allows the early detection of this cancer, which can be easily identified in biological samples, such as saliva, without intervening in advanced stages, is a challenge. Numerous studies have identified a panel of molecular markers differently expressed in OSCC and normal oral mucosa. In particular, it was found an aberrant expression of matricellular glycoprotein SPARC. SPARC is involved in normal tissue remodeling, regulating the deposition of extracellular matrix, but also in neoplastic transformation. In fact, aberrant SPARC expression was detected both in stromal cells associated with cancer and in tumor cells. The aim of our study was the evaluation of SPARC on a retrospective series of 119 OSCC cases and the validation of the obtained data on a prospective series of 27 patients with OSCC, of whom we have previously collected saliva, and smeared material. The obtained results were correlated with each other and with clinical pathological parameters at our disposal. The study demonstrated a prognostic value of SPARC, especially with regard to its expression in the stroma surrounding OSCC (P < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aquino
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantile
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ionna
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Elvira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: La Mantia
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Collina
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malzone
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Anatomic Pathology, Second Section of Oral Pathology, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pannone
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Nunzia Simona
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Losito
authors.affiliation: Pathology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Medical Oncology Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015676:Osteonectin; C577241:SPARC protein, human; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides