title: High expression of podoplanin in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue occurs predominantly in patients ≤40 years but does not correlate with tumour spread.
abstract: More than 30% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the mobile tongue have clinically undetectable lymph node metastasis. Tumour cells can spread as single cells or collectively. A protein known to play a role in both processes is podoplanin, which is expressed in endothelial cells not only in lymph vessels but also in some aggressive tumours with high invasive and metastatic potential. Here we studied samples from 129 patients with primary SCC of the tongue for expression of podoplanin using immunohistochemistry. mRNA levels were analysed in another 27 cases of tongue SCC with adjacent clinically tumour-free tongue tissue and 14 tongue samples from healthy donors. Higher levels of podoplanin were seen in tumours compared to both normal tongue and clinically normal tongue in the tumour vicinity. No association was found between levels of podoplanin, presence of lymph node metastases or other clinical factors. Patients aged 40 or less were more likely to express high levels of podoplanin protein compared to older patients (p = 0.027). We conclude that levels of podoplanin in primary tongue SCCs are not associated with lymph node metastases. However, tongue SCCs arising in young patients (≤40 years of age) are more likely to express high levels of podoplanin than tongue SCCs that arise in the more elderly. The data suggest that podoplanin has a distinctive role in young patients, who are known to have a poor prognosis: these patients may, therefore, benefit from podoplanin inhibitory therapies.
authors: Department of Medical BiosciencesUmeå UniversityUmeåSweden; Second University of Naples, Multidisciplinary Department of MedicalSurgical and Dental SpecialtiesNaplesItaly; Department of Neuroscience Reproductive and Dentistry SciencesUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly.
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Sgaramella
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences ENT, Uppsala University SE-751 05 Uppsala Sweden.
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Lindell Jonsson
authors: Department of Medical Biosciences Umeå University Umeå Sweden.
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Boldrup
authors: Department of Neuroscience Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences University of Naples Federico II Naples Italy.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Califano
authors: Division of Medical Sciences University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School DD1 9SY Dundee UK.
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Coates
authors: Second University of Naples, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical Surgical and Dental Specialties Naples Italy.
authors: Gianpaolo
authors: G
authors: Tartaro
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine University of Foggia 71122 Foggia Italy.
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Lo Muzio
authors: University Paris Diderot, INSERM UMRS116227 rue Juliette DoduParis75010France; RECAMOMasaryk Memorial Cancer InstituteZluty kopec 7656 53BrnoCzech Republic.
authors: Robin
authors: R
authors: Fåhraeus
authors: Second University of Naples, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical Surgical and Dental Specialties Naples Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Colella
authors: Department of Neuroscience Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences University of Naples Federico II Naples Italy.
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Dell'Aversana Orabona
authors: Department of Medical Biosciences Umeå University Umeå Sweden.
authors: Lotta
authors: L
authors: Loljung
authors: Second University of Naples, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical Surgical and Dental Specialties Naples Italy.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Santagata
authors: Dipartimento Universitario di Anatomia Patologica Seconda Universita' Degli Studi di Napoli Piazza Miraglia 80138 Naples Italy.
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Rossiello
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences/ENT Umeå University Umeå Sweden.
authors: Torben
authors: T
authors: Wilms
authors: Department of Odontology Umeå University SE-90185 Umeå Sweden.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Danielsson
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences ENT, Uppsala University SE-751 05 Uppsala Sweden.
authors: Göran
authors: G
authors: Laurell
authors: Department of Medical Biosciences Umeå University Umeå Sweden.
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: Nylander
keywords: podoplanin; squamous cell carcinoma; tongue