Nuclear Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Overexpression as a Survival Predictor in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine, by immunohistochemical methods, the expression of nEGFR and markers of cell proliferation (Ki-67), cell cycle (mEGFR, p53, cyclin D1), and tumor stem cells (ABCG2) in 59 pathohistological samples of healthy oral mucosa, 50 oral premalignant changes (leukoplakia and erythroplakia), and 52 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC). An increase in the expression of mEGFR and nEGFR was found with the development of the disease (p < 0.0001). In the group of patients with leukoplakia and erythroplakia, we found a positive correlation between nEGFR and Ki67, p53, cyclin D1, and mEGFR, whereas in the group of patients with OSCC, we found a positive correlation between nEGFR and Ki67, mEGFR (p < 0.05). Tumors without perineural (PNI) invasion had a higher expression of p53 protein than tumors with PNI (p = 0.02). Patients with OSCC and overexpression of nEGFR had shorter overall survival (p = 0.004). The results of this study suggest a potentially important independent role of nEGFR in oral carcinogenesis.

Evaluation of CYP1B1, oxidative stress and phase II detoxification enzyme status in oral cancer progression model

“…The stained sections were then observed under high magnification (40x), with computer assisted image analyzer (LAS Version-4.1) for cytoplasmic staining and Allred (Quick) scoring system was used to analyze immunohistochemical expression. 17 , 18 , 19 In the Allred scoring system score A depicts the proportion of positively stained cells out of hundred it ranges from 0 to 5 (0 = 0%, 1 = 1 %, 2 = 2–10%, 3 = 11–33%, 4 = 34–66%, 5 = 67–100%) and score B depicts the intensity of the stain which ranges from 0 to 3 (0 = Negative, 1 = Weak, 2 = Intermediate and 3 = Strong). The combination of the percentage of positively stained cells and the staining intensity (A + B) ranges from 0 to 8, wherein 0-1 score is considered to be negative, 2–3 is weak, 4–6 is intermediate and 7–8 is considered to be strong positivity and as such a particular score can be assigned to the slide.…”

Pathogenesis and Therapy of Oral Carcinogenesis

“…It was also shown that p53 is significantly more expressed in patients with premalignant changes and OSCC compared to healthy oral mucosa and that its expression is associated with perineural invasion (PNI). Cyclin D1 expression was significantly higher in patients with premalignant changes and OSCC compared to healthy oral mucosa, suggesting its role in disease progression [ 27 ].…”