title: Metallothionein gene expression is altered in oral cancer and may predict metastasis and patient outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metallothioneins (MTs) are proteins associated with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of various tumours. Previous studies have shown their potential as biomarkers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Aiming to understand more clearly the function of MTs in OSCC we evaluated, for the first time, the gene expression profile of MTs in this neoplasm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tissue samples from 35 cases of tongue and/or floor of mouth OSCC, paired with their corresponding non-neoplastic oral mucosa (NNOM), were retrieved (2007-09). All tissues were analysed for the following genes using TaqMan(®) reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays: MT1A, MT1B, MT1E, MT1F, MT1G, MT1H, MT1X, MT2A, MT3 and MT4. The expression of MT1B and MT1H was seldom detected in both OSCC and NNOM. A significant loss of MT1A, MT1X, MT3 and MT4 expression and gain of MT1F expression was observed in OSCC, compared to NNOM. Cases with MT1G down-regulation exhibited the worst prognoses. The up-regulation of MT1X was restricted to non-metastatic cases, whereas up-regulation of MT3 was related to cases with lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metallothionein mRNA expression is altered significantly in oral squamous cell carcinomas. The expression of MT1G, MT1X and MT3 may aid in the prognostic discrimination of OSCC cases.
authors: PhD program in Estomatology and Basic and Applied Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Marco T
authors: MT
authors: Brazão-Silva
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Maria Fernandes S
authors: MF
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Department of Pathology, Brazilian National Cancer Institute/INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Ana Lúcia A
authors: AL
authors: Eisenberg
authors: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Brazilian National Cancer Institute/INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Fernando L
authors: FL
authors: Dias
authors: National Tumor Bank, Brazilian National Cancer Institute/INCA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Luciana M
authors: LM
authors: de Castro
authors: PhD program in Estomatology and Basic and Applied Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Fábio D
authors: FD
authors: Nunes
authors: Department of Histology and Morphology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
authors: Paulo R
authors: PR
authors: Faria
authors: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
authors: Sérgio V
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1809-0617
authors: SV
authors: Cardoso
authors: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.
authors: Adriano M
authors: AM
authors: Loyola
authors: PhD program in Estomatology and Basic and Applied Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.|Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Suzana C O M
authors: SC
authors: de Sousa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053513:Matrix Metalloproteinase 16 / Q000235:genetics; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C507102:MMP16 protein, human; C499629:MT1G protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C581554:metallothionein1X, human; D008668:Metallothionein; D053513:Matrix Metalloproteinase 16
keywords: RT-qPCR; metallothionein; metastasis; oral squamous cell carcinoma; prognosis