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The Akt/ mTOR pathway is activated in verrucous carcinoma of the oral cavity
Author(s) -
Chaisuparat Risa,
Limpiwatana Seehachart,
Kongpanitkul Sanida,
Yodsanga Somchai,
Jham Bruno C.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1111/jop.12422
Subject(s) - pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , protein kinase b , immunohistochemistry , cancer research , malignancy , medicine , pathology , biology , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology
Background The Akt/ mTOR pathway is activated in many malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC ). However, the role of the Akt/ mTOR pathway in oral verrucous carcinoma ( OVC ), a low‐grade variant of OSCC , remains unknown. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the activation level of important markers of the Akt/ mTOR pathway in OVC and to compare the results with OSCC samples. Methods The expression of p‐Akt (Thr308), p‐Akt (Ser473), and p‐ RPS 6 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 30 OSCC cases, 18 OVC cases, and 30 control cases (normal epithelium overlying fibromas). Statistical analysis was performed to determine the differences in protein expression between samples. Results All OVC cases were positive for p‐Akt (Thr308), p‐Akt (Ser473), and p‐ RPS 6. There were significant differences in expression level of all studied proteins between OVC and control, as well as between OVC and OSCC . However, OVC showed significant lower staining scores than OSCC . Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the Akt/ mTOR pathway is upregulated in OVC , indicating a role for this pathway in the development and progression of this malignancy.