title: Immunoexpression of EGFR and EMMPRIN in a series of cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) have been identified as oncologically important targets. This study aimed to evaluate the immunoexpression of EGFR and EMMPRIN in a series of cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five cases of HNSCC were selected for this study and evaluated with anti-EGFR and anti-EMMPRIN antibodies. The percentage of positive cells was determined assessing to the following categories: score 1 (staining in 0-50% of cells), score 2 (staining in 51-75% of cells), and score 3 (staining in >75% of cells). Immunostaining intensity was graded according to the following parameters: score 1 (absent/weak expression) and score 2 (strong expression).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For EGFR, a predominance of high median scores was observed in cases of both histological grades of malignancy and in different clinical stages (p>0.05). For EMMPRIN, a statistically significant difference was observed between the histological grades of malignancy (p=0.030). Regarding the immunostaining intensity of EMMPRIN, it was observed a predominance of score 1 in cases with stages I/II, whereas most cases with stages III/IV presented score 2 (p=0.032). Considering the anatomical location, most cases of buccal floor presented higher median score of EMMPRIN in comparison with the other sites (p=0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that both proteins are potential targets for cancer therapy and EMMPRIN can be used as a prognostic marker of a more aggressive biological behavior in patients with HNSCC.
authors: Oral Pathology Postgraduate Program, Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: ana_luiza_dla@hotmail.com.
authors: Ana Luiza Dias Leite
authors: AL
authors: de Andrade
authors: Oral Pathology Postgraduate Program, Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors: Stefânia Jeronimo
authors: SJ
authors: Ferreira
authors: Clinical Propedeutics, CESMAC University Center, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
authors: Sonia Maria Soares
authors: SM
authors: Ferreira
authors: Clinical Propedeutics, CESMAC University Center, Maceió, AL, Brazil.
authors: Camila Maria Beder
authors: CM
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Oral Pathology Postgraduate Program, Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors: Roseana de Almeida
authors: Rde A
authors: Freitas
authors: Oral Pathology Postgraduate Program, Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors: Hébel Cavalcanti
authors: HC
authors: Galvão
mesh_terms: D051926:Basigin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: C497886:BSG protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D051926:Basigin; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Epidermal growth factor receptor; Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry