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A loss of profilin‐1 in late‐stage oral squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Adami Guy R.,
O'Callaghan Thomas N.,
Kolokythas Antonia,
Cabay Robert. J.,
Zhou Yalu,
Schwartz Joel L.
Publication year - 2017
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.12523
Subject(s) - pathology , epithelium , immunohistochemistry , biology , basal (medicine) , metastasis , cell , lymph node , cancer research , oral mucosa , epidermoid carcinoma , carcinoma , cancer , medicine , endocrinology , genetics , insulin
Background The genes for PFN 1 and TMSB 4 are both highly expressed in oral tissue and both encode actin monomer binding proteins thought to play a role in cell motility and possibly other crucial parts of tumor progression. Methods Oral brush cytology of epithelium from oral squamous cell carcinoma ( OSCC ) was used to measure PFN 1 and TMSB 4 mRNA in OSCC , while immunohistochemical analysis of tissue was used to check protein levels. Results High but variable expression of mRNA s encoding these two proteins was observed suggesting they may contribute to tumor characteristics in a subset of OSCC s. Both proteins were highly expressed in normal appearing basal epithelium, in the cytoplasm, and perinuclear area, while expression was minimal in upper epithelial layers. In OSCC s, expression of these proteins varied. In tumors classified as later stage, based on size and/or lymph node involvement, PFN 1 levels were lower in tumor epithelium. A control gene, KRT 13, showed expression in normal differentiated basal and suprabasal oral mucosa epithelial cells and as reported was lost in OSCC cells. Conclusion Loss of PFN 1 in tumor cells has been associated with lymph node invasion and metastasis in other tumor types, strengthening the argument that the protein has the potential to be a tumor suppressor in late‐stage OSCC .