title: The clinicopathologic significance of the expression of HLA-G in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate HLA-G expression in primary oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and potentially malignant lesions and to evaluate its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  HLA-G expression in samples from patients with metastatic and nonmetastatic OCSCC (n = 60), potentially malignant lesions (n = 15), and clinically and histologically normal oral mucosa (n = 10) was characterized by immunohistochemistry. The density of CD8, CD83, and CD68 cells and Ki-67(+) and bcl-2(+) neoplastic cells were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA-G expression by neoplastic cells was significantly higher in metastatic OCSCC compared with nonmetastatic OCSCC (P = .01). Higher HLA-G expression was observed in OCSCC than in potentially malignant lesions (P = .006). Moreover, patients with lower HLA-G expression exhibited a tendency toward longer survival (22 months) compared with those with higher HLA-G expression (16 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that increased HLA-G expression in metastatic OCSCC may represent a tumor escape mechanism, which portends an unfavorable clinical prognosis.
authors: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Andréia Souza
authors: AS
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Department of Biology, State University of Goiás, Morrinhos, Brazil; Department of Medicine, Pontifical Catholic University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Isabela Jubé
authors: IJ
authors: Wastowski
authors: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Lucas Raineri
authors: LR
authors: Capeletti
authors: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Nancy Tomoko
authors: NT
authors: Sacono
authors: Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Alane Pereira
authors: AP
authors: Cortez
authors: Laboratory of Cellular Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.
authors: Marize Campos
authors: MC
authors: Valadares
authors: Department of Oral Surgery and Pathology, Dental School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors: Tarcília Aparecida
authors: TA
authors: Silva
authors: Department of Stomatology (Oral Pathology), Dental School, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil. Electronic address: ali.caba@uol.com.br.
authors: Aline Carvalho
authors: AC
authors: Batista
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010784:Photomicrography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D059951:HLA-G Antigens