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Nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of Met in oral squamous cell carcinoma and in an organotypic oral cancer model
Author(s) -
Brusevold Ingvild J.,
Søland Tine M.,
Khuu Cuong,
Christoffersen Thoralf,
Bryne Magne
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2010.00747.x
Subject(s) - immunohistochemistry , blot , cancer , cytoplasm , pathology , oral mucosa , metastasis , cancer cell , cell , medicine , basal cell , cancer research , basal (medicine) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics , insulin , gene
Brusevold IJ, Søland TM, Khuu C, Christoffersen T, Bryne M. Nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of Met in oral squamous cell carcinoma and in an organotypic oral cancer model. Eur J Oral Sci 2010; 118: 342–349. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Eur J Oral Sci Met, the hepatocyte growth factor receptor, is important in transducing signals for tumour growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of Met expression and its value as a prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). The material consisted of 53 OSCCs and five healthy controls from normal oral mucosa supplied with cell lines, 10 organotypic models supplied with oral cancer cells, and three organotypic models supplied with normal keratinocytes. Met protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Met expression was scarce and limited to the basal layer in normal oral mucosa, but was more extensive in the tumours. Cytoplasmic expression of Met was found in the majority of the tumours, and nuclear expression was found in 72%, including a high fraction of the cells located at the invasive front. Organotypic models with normal or malignant oral cells yielded principally similar results as in the mucosa and the cancers, respectively. A smaller amount of Met immunoreactivity was detected, by western blotting, in the nuclear fraction of cultured oral cancer cells. In conclusion, Met was upregulated in OSCCs and was also found in the nucleus. However, Met was not a marker for prognosis in this study.