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Caspase expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
CoutinhoCamillo Cláudia Malheiros,
Lourenço Silvia Vanessa,
Nishimoto Ines Nobuko,
Kowalski Luiz Paulo,
Soares Fernando Augusto
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21602
Subject(s) - caspase , apoptosis , carcinogenesis , basal cell , cancer research , programmed cell death , tissue microarray , cell , biology , caspase 3 , immunohistochemistry , medicine , pathology , cancer , genetics
Background Apoptosis is a genetically programmed form of cell death, of which caspases are the central components. Methods By tissue microarray of 229 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we analyzed the immunoexpression of caspases 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Results All proteins that we examined were expressed in primary OSCC samples. Caspases 8 and 9 were prominently expressed, and caspases 3, 6, 7, and 10 were occasionally expressed. Disease‐free survival differed significantly between caspase 7 high‐expressing and low‐expressing patients, and our multivariate analysis suggested that expression of caspase 7 is an independent prognostic factor for patients with OSCC. Conclusion This study suggests that caspases regulate the tumorigenesis of OSCC and that caspase 7 expression is a predictor of locoregional recurrence of OSCC. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011