title: Prognostic significance of neural stem cell markers, Nestin and Musashi-1, in oral squamous cell carcinoma: expression pattern of Nestin in the precancerous stages of oral squamous epithelium.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Besides the tissue-specific stem cell markers, neural and hematopoietic stem cell markers were found to play an important role in carcinogenesis. Based on this background, we have investigated the expression pattern and prognostic significance of neural stem cell markers, Nestin and Musashi-1, in oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses to study the expression pattern and correlation between Nestin and Musashi-1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to construct overall and disease-free survival curves, and the differences were calculated using log-rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nestin expression was gradually increased in the transformation stages of oral cancer. Both Nestin and Musashi-1 expressions were associated with higher stage and poorly differentiated status of oral carcinoma. Interestingly, Nestin and Musashi-1 double positive cases showed statistically highly significant correlation with poorer survival of oral carcinoma patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of Nestin in the preneoplastic lesions indicates its role in the transformation of oral squamous epithelium. Clinicopathological and survival analyses suggest that Nestin and Musashi-1 might be associated with invasion, differentiation and poorer survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma. In addition to their role as independent prognostic indicators, Nestin and Musashi-1 double positivity can be used to select high-risk cases for effective therapy and this is the novel finding of this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nestin and Musashi-1 are found to be independent prognostic markers of oral cancer, and they might be used as molecular targets for effective therapy.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Gokulan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Halagowder
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Devaraj
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D064231:Nestin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C491297:MSI1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D064231:Nestin; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins