RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Scatter Factor Receptor (c-Met) as Possible Prognostic Factor in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
JF Anticancer Research
JO Anticancer Res
FD International Institute of Anticancer Research
SP 1063
OP 1070
VO 24
IS 2C
A1 LO MUZIO, L.
A1 LEONARDI, R.
A1 MIGNOGNA, M.D.
A1 PANNONE, G.
A1 RUBINI, C.
A1 PIERAMICI, T.
A1 TREVISIOL, L.
A1 FERRARI, F.
A1 SERPICO, R.
A1 TESTA, N.
A1 DE ROSA, G.
A1 STAIBANO, S.
YR 2004
UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/2C/1063.abstract
AB This report was performed to study the biological role of c-Met in oral tumorigenesis by analyzing its expression in relation to clinicopathological features. Seventy-three cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 of normal mucosa were analysed for c-Met expression by immunohistochemistry. Normal oral squamous epithelium showed absent or low membranous positivity in the intermediate (malpighian - spinous) layer. Fifty-seven cases (78%) of carcinoma showed immunopositivity, with a prevalently membranous positivity and scattered areas also showing a cytoplasmic localization. Sixteen cases of carcinoma (22%) showed no positivity for c-Met. Among positive tumours, well-differentiated areas showed low or absent cytoplasmic positivity, while low-differentiated areas showed both membranous and cytoplasmic positivity. There was no statistically significant correlation between c-Met expression and sex, recurrence, staging or grading. The frequency of lymph node metastases was higher in c-Met-positive tumours (17/57, 29%) than in c-Met-negative ones (4/16, 25%). When analysed for prognostic significance, patients with negative/reduced c-Met expression had better survival rates than patients with high expression. The difference between survival rates was statistically significant (p<0.05). These data suggest that c-Met expression may be useful to identify cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma with a more aggressive and invasive phenotype. Copyright© 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved