Automated immunohistochemical quantification of hypoxia biomarkers shows correlation with dysplastic epithelial changes

Abstract

Background: Dysregulation of the hypoxia-aerobic system has been postulated in various malignancies. Nonetheless, the contribution of hypoxia to oral carcinogenesis is yet to be elucidated. Understanding this mechanism is important for improving diagnostic tools and targeted therapies. This study aimed to assess the dysregulation of hypoxia-related factors during different stages of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) development.Methods: Ninety-two patients diagnosed clinically with oral leukoplakia or OSCC were included and classified according to their histopathological diagnoses. A panel of seven hypoxia-related antibodies were used for immunohistochemical staining of each case. Automated quantification of immunostaining was used for objective reporting. Microvessel density was also assessed.Results: Significant associations were reported for non-dysplastic epithelial changes and malignancy for Glut1, HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(p < 0.005). Similarly, microvessel density significantly increased with the severity of epithelial disorders. A multiple regression model including the H-score of HIF-1α and microvessel density could statistically significantly predict the grade of epithelial disorder (p < 0.005). The associated diagnostic accuracy of this approach was 88%.Conclusions: Hypoxia-associated events are observed during early epithelial dysplastic changes and have a potential role in oral carcinogenesis. The level of hypoxia may assist in stratifying the severity of epithelial changes among patients with oral leukoplakia.

Epigenetics in the diagnosis and prognosis of head and neck cancer: A systematic review

“…5 This is usually seen in clinical settings where different outcomes have been reported among patients with HNSCCs or OPMDs regardless of having similar prognostic profiles, indicating various underlying patterns of epigenetic and genetic changes at cellular levels. 8 While hundreds of molecular biomarkers -proposedly implicated in head and neck tumorigenesis -have been extensively investigated in the literature, 4,9 conclusive outcomes have yet to be determined.…”