Association of differential β-catenin expression with Oct-4 and Nanog in oral squamous cell carcinoma and their correlation with clinicopathological factors and prognosis.
BACKGROUND
The re-expression of pluripotent markers (Oct-4 and Nanog) and the reactivation of stem cell-related pathways in oral carcinoma have been well researched. However, the relationship between the stem cell signaling molecule β-catenin and pluripotent markers Oct-4 and Nanog in oral cancer is yet to be studied in detail. Therefore, we have investigated the correlation among Oct-4, Nanog, and β-catenin in oral squamous cell carcinoma, which, in turn, could provide valuable insight into its prognostic significance.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical analysis was performed for 60 cases of oral cancer to study the expression pattern of Oct-4, Nanog, and β-catenin. Whereas immunofluorescence analysis was used to investigate the co-localization of β-catenin with Oct-4 and Nanog in oral carcinoma tissues and H314 cell line. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation analysis was used to study the possible interaction between β-catenin and Oct-4 in oral carcinoma cells.


RESULTS
β-catenin, Oct-4, and Nanog showed significant correlation with lymph node metastasis, stage, grade, and prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Interestingly, a significant positive correlation was found among the expression of Oct-4, Nanog, and β-catenin. Moreover, the interaction between β-catenin and Oct-4 was observed in oral cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive correlation among Oct-4, Nanog, and β-catenin suggests their coordinated role in maintaining proliferation in oral carcinoma cells. The interaction between β-catenin and Oct-4 may be a crucial event in oral carcinogenesis. On the other hand, β-catenin, Oct-4, and Nanog could be used as independent prognostic markers of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Gokulan
G
Ravindran
Cancer Research Institute, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India.
Sharada S
SS
Sawant
School of Oral and Dental Sciences, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
Angela
A
Hague
School of Dental Medicine, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Karl
K
Kingsley
Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Halagowder
H
Devaraj
D000368:Aged; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D016019:Survival Analysis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C486780:NANOG protein, human; D000071317:Nanog Homeobox Protein; D050814:Octamer Transcription Factor-3; D051176:beta Catenin
Nanog; Oct-4; cancer stem cells; oral squamous cell carcinoma; β-catenin