title: Overexpression of S100A4 as a biomarker of metastasis and recurrence in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: S100A4, a biomarker of epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), plays an important role in invasion and metastasis by promoting cancer cell motility. In oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), metastasis results in 90% of cancer associated mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of S100A4 expression as an important component of the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) program in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  S100A4 protein expression was assessed semi-quantitatively by immunohistochemistry in 47 histologically confirmed cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 10 normal oral mucosal biopsies. The association between the S100A4 overexpression and the aggressive features of OSCC were analyzed by X2 test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate to strong cytoplasmic expression of S100A4 was observed in 30 out of 47 specimens of OSCC (64%). Overexpression of S100A4 was significantly associated with the clinical stage, lymph node involvement, metastases, pattern of invasion and recurrence (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S100A4 expression represents an important biomarker of prognostic significance that may be used to identify a subset of patients at high risk of invasion and metast.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Jayalakshmi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Vimi S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Mutalik
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Raghu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D000071999:S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A4; D009418:S100 Proteins; C077591:S100A4 protein, human