Objective: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) accounts for over 90% of oral neoplasms. Finding molecular markers for predicting prognosis is a high priority. The core transcription factors, OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG that regulate embryonic stem cell pluripotency have been implicated in progression of various malignancies. The predictive value of these markers and their role in the development of OSCC is still controversial. In this study, we therefore evaluated their expression in OSCCs and adjacent non-tumor tissue. Methods: A total of 60 frozen tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue samples from 30 patients with OSCC were examined using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Clinical and pathological data of patients including tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and tumor grade were also recorded. Results: Expression of SOX2 was significantly higher in adjacent non-tumor as compared to tumor tissue (P=0.04). No statistically significant differences were found for expression of OCT4 (P=0.50) and NANOG (P=0.68). Also, there was no significant association between expression of OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG and clinical or pathological data (P>0.05), although slightly higher values were noted in patients without lymph node metastasis. Conclusion: Based on the present data, decreased expression of SOX2 is correlated with carcinogenesis in the oral cavity and development of OSCC.

Background and Aim: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is considered to be the most common malignancy in humans and occurs primarily in the skin especially in the head and neck region. Considering the high recurrence rate of the tumor, finding a marker for prediction of recurrence is very important. Cancer stem cells are a small subpopulation in the tumors that are related to tumorigenesis and recurrence and OCT4 is a known stem cell marker. The present study was designed to explore the relation between expression of OCT4 in the head and neck basal cell carcinoma and recurrence of the tumor. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 84 patients with head and neck BCC who were followed up for 24 months. Immunohistochemical expression of OCT4 was assessed in paraffin embedded blocks. Results: Positive expression of OCT4 was significantly associated with the recurrence rate (P<0.001). Conclusion: We conclude that the expression of OCT4 can serve as a predictive marker for tumor recurrence in the head and neck basal cell carcinoma.