title: Sonic hedgehog in oral squamous cell carcinoma: An immunohistochemical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have revealed the involvement of hedgehog (Hh) signaling component in proliferation and invasive behavior of many carcinomas.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to identify the expression of sonic Hh (SHH) protein of SHH pathway in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using SHH (H-160) (Santa Cruz, sc-9042) which could have therapeutic implication in future.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 250 cases comprising 50 normal oral mucosa, 50 cases of oral epithelial dysplasia, 50 well, 50 moderate and 50 poorly differentiated OSCCs were included in the study. Immunohistochemical evaluation of SHH protein expression was conducted using monoclonal antibody. Interpretation of the expression was done by immunoreactive score of Remmele and Stegner (IRS) scoring method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-Square test was used to analyze the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that SHH signaling molecules are highly expressed in OSCC, and their expression was mainly in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SHH signaling component is associated with the pathological parameter in OSCC and oral epithelial dysplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, GDCRI, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sahana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinath
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, DAPMRV, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Asha R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Iyengar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, MSRMC, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Vijaya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mysorekar
keywords: Dysplasia; oral squamous cell carcinoma; sonic hedgehog