Diagnostic value of lncRNAs as potential biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis:a meta-analysis

Objective Several studies have revealed the critical role of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)as biomarkers for diagnosing oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).However,the data remain inconsistent.This meta-analysis was performed to summarize the potential of lncRNAs as OSCC biomarkers.Methods We searched PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases for literature published until December 10,2020.Study quality was assessed using Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy-2,and sensitivity,specificity,and other measures regarding lncRNAs for OSCC diagnosis were pooled using bivariate meta-analysis models.Data analyses were performed using STATA 14.0.Results Overall,8 studies with 981 cases and 585 controls were included in the pooled analysis.The pooled sensitivity,specificity,positive likelihood ratio,negative likelihood ratio,diagnostic odds ratio,and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values were as follows:0.76[95%confidence interval(CI),0.65–0.84],0.90(95%CI,0.82–0.95),7.5(95%CI,4.20–13.40),0.27(95%CI,0.18–0.39),28(95%CI,13.00–58.00),0.90(95%CI,0.87–0.93),respectively.Deeks’funnel plot asymmetry test(P=0.56)indicated no potential publication bias.Conclusion Our meta-analytical evidence suggests that lncRNAs could be employed as a potential non-invasive diagnostic tool for OSCC.

Immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and 13 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and their role in predicting lymph node metastasis

BACKGROUND One of the main characteristics of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is that it metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes frequently with a high degree of local invasiveness.A primary feature of malignant tumors is their penetration of neighboring tissues,such as lymphatic and blood arteries,due to the tumor cells'capacity to break down the extracellular matrix(ECM).Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)constitute a family of proteolytic enzymes that facilitate tissue remo-deling and the degradation of the ECM.MMP-9 and MMP-13 belong to the group of extracellular matrix degrading enzymes and their expression has been studied in OSCC because of their specific functions.MMP-13,a collagenase family member,is thought to play an essential role in the MMP activation cascade by breaking down the fibrillar collagens,whereas MMP-9 is thought to accelerate the growth of tumors.Elevated MMP-13 expression has been associated with tumor behavior and patient prognosis in a number of malignant cases.The authors wish to thank Jadhav KB for his valuable opinion during the preparation of the manuscript.

Novel insights on oral squamous cell carcinoma management using long non-coding RNAs

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)is one of the most prevalent forms of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas(HNSCC)with a poor overall survival rate(about 50%),particularly in cases of metastasis.RNA-based cancer biomarkers are a relatively advanced concept,and non-coding RNAs currently have shown promising roles in the detection and treatment of various malignancies.This review underlines the function of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)in the OSCC and its subsequent clinical implications.LncRNAs,a class of non-coding RNAs,are larger than 200 nucleotides and resemble mRNA in numerous ways.However,unlike mRNA,lncRNA regulates multiple druggable and non-druggable signaling molecules through simultaneous interaction with DNA,RNA,proteins,or microRNAs depending on concentration and localization in cells.Upregulation of oncogenic lncRNAs and downregulation of tumor suppressor lncRNAs are evident in OSCC tissues and body fluids such as blood and saliva indicating their potential as valuable biomarkers.Targeted inhibition of candidate oncogenic lncRNAs or overexpression of tumor suppressor lncRNAs showed potential therapeutic roles in in-vivo animal models.The types of lncRNAs that are expressed differentially in OSCC tissue and bodily fluids have been systematically documented with specificity and sensitivity.This review thoroughly discusses the biological functions of such lncRNAs in OSCC cell survival,proliferation,invasion,migration,metastasis,angiogenesis,metabolism,epigenetic modification,tumor immune microenvironment,and drug resistance.Subsequently,we addressed the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of lncRNAs in OSCC pre-clinical and clinical systems,providing details on ongoing research and outlining potential future directions for advancements in this field.In essence,this review could be a valuable resource by offering comprehensive and current insights into lncRNAs in OSCC for researchers in fundamental and clinical domains.

Galectin 2 regulates JAK/STAT3 signaling activity to modulate oral squamous cell carcinoma proliferation and migration in vitro

Background:Galectin 2(LGALS2)is a protein previously reported to serve as a mediator of disease progression in a range of cancers.The function of LGALS2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),however,has yet to be explored,prompting the present study to address this literature gap.Methods:Overall,144 paired malignant tumor tissues and paracancerous OSCC patient samples were harvested and the LGALS2 expression levels were examined through qPCR and western immunoblotting.The LGALS2 coding sequence was introduced into the pcDNA3.0 vector,to enable the overexpression of this gene,while an LGALS2-specific shRNA and corresponding controls were also obtained.The functionality of LGALS2 as a regulator of the ability of OSCC cells to grow and undergo apoptotic death in vitro was assessed through EdU uptake and CCK-8 assays,and flow cytometer,whereas a Transwell system was used to assess migratory activity and invasivity.An agonist of the Janus Kinase 2(JAK2)/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3(STAT3)pathway was also used to assess the role of this pathway in the context of LGALS2 signaling.Results:Here,we found that lower LGALS2 protein and mRNA expression were evident in OSCC tumor tissue samples,and these expression levels were associated with clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival outcomes.Silencing LGALS2 enhanced proliferation in OSCC cells while rendering these cells better able to resist apoptosis.The opposite was instead observed after LGALS2 was overexpressed.Mechanistically,the ability of LGALS2 to suppress the progression of OSCC was related to its ability to activate the JAK/STAT3 signaling axis.Conclusion:Those results suggest a role for LGALS2 as a suppressor of OSCC progression through its ability to modulate JAK/STAT3 signaling,supporting the potential utility of LGALS2 as a target for efforts aimed at treating OSCC patients.

TCGA-based analysis of oncogenic signaling pathways underlying oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background:Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)represents a prevalent malignancy in the oral and maxillofacial area,having a considerable negative impact on both the quality of life and overall survival of affected individuals.Our research endeavors to leverage bioinformatic approaches to elucidate oncogenic signaling pathways,with the ultimate goal of gaining deeper insights into the molecular underpinnings of OSCC pathogenesis,and thus laying the groundwork for the development of more effective therapeutic and preventive strategies.Methods:Differential expression analysis was performed on mRNA data from tumor and normal tissue groups to identify genes associated with OSCC,using The Cancer Genome Atlas database.Predictions of oncogenic signaling pathways linked to differentially expressedmRNAs were made,and these results were presented visually using R software,using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichments.Results:GO and KEGG analyses of 2938 differentially expressed genes in OSCC highlighted their significant involvement in various biological processes.Notably,these processes were related to the extracellular matrix,structural organization,connective tissue development,and cell cycle regulation.Conclusions:The comprehensive exploration of gene expression patterns provides valuable insights into potential oncogenic mechanisms in OSCC.

Diagnostic Role of Computerised Tomography in Mandibular Invasion among Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background: Oral cavity malignancy can result from surface epithelium, salivary glands, or submucosal soft tissue. Common symptoms may include non-healing ulcers, slurred speech, dysphagia, neck mass and pain which may indicate cortical invasion. Morbidity and quality of life have been seen to rise with mandibular excision in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, in order to design the surgery appropriately, it is vital to be aware of the mandibular invasion prior to the procedure. Various researches have been focused on the accuracy of clinical examination and imaging technique in predicting tumour invasion of the mandible in oral malignancy. The goal of this study was to find a correlation between histological assessment, clinical examination, and computed tomography results in patients with mandibular involvement and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Objectives: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, NPV and PPV of CECT and clinical diagnosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma with mandibular invasion. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was set out to review preoperative clinical and radiological assessment;and post operative histopathological finding of mandibular resection specimen in clinically evaluated and diagnosed cases of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with mandibular invasion. Results: 43 individuals of oral cavity SCC with mandibular involvement were examined. 12 out of 28 mandibular resections had bone invasion, with numerous tumour entry sites being the most frequent mechanism of invasion, according to post-operative HPE. The positive predictive value (PPV) of contrast enhanced computerised tomography (CECT) scans was 42.8%, as 28 individuals had invasions revealed;sensitivity is almost 100%;specificity is 48.3. Conclusion: Prioritizing the identification of mandibular invasion is essential to enhance the prognosis of patients with oral SCC. There is an urgent necessity to review the usefulness of radiology in the treatment of mandibulectomy. Combination of clinical and radiological examination increases sensitivity and specificity.

Novel defined N7-methylguanosine modification-related lncRNAs for predicting the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Objective:Through integrated bioinformatics analysis,the goal of this work was to find new,characterised N7-methylguanosine modification-related long non-coding RNAs(m7G-lncRNAs)that might be used to predict the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma(LSCC).Methods:The clinical data and LSCC gene expression data for the current investigation were initially retrieved from the TCGA database&sanitised.Then,using co-expression analysis of m7G-associated mRNAs&lncRNAs&differential expression analysis(DEA)among LSCC&normal sample categories,we discovered lncRNAs that were connected to m7G.The prognosis prediction model was built for the training category using univariate&multivariate COX regression&LASSO regression analyses,&the model’s efficacy was checked against the test category data.In addition,we conducted DEA of prognostic m7G-lncRNAs among LSCC&normal sample categories&compiled a list of co-expression networks&the structure of prognosis m7G-lncRNAs.To compare the prognoses for individuals with LSCC in the high-&low-risk categories in the prognosis prediction model,survival and risk assessments were also carried out.Finally,we created a nomogram to accurately forecast the outcomes of LSCC patients&created receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves to assess the prognosis prediction model’s predictive capability.Results:Using co-expression network analysis&differential expression analysis,we discovered 774 m7G-lncRNAs and 551 DEm7G-lncRNAs,respectively.We then constructed a prognosis prediction model for six m7G-lncRNAs(FLG−AS1,RHOA−IT1,AC020913.3,AC027307.2,AC010973.2 and AC010789.1),identified 32 DEPm7G-lncRNAs,analyzed the correlation between 32 DEPm7G-lncRNAs and 13 DEPm7G-mRNAs,and performed survival analyses and risk analyses of the prognosis prediction model to assess the prognostic performance of LSCC patients.By displaying ROC curves and a nomogram,we finally checked the prognosis prediction model's accuracy.Conclusion:By creating novel predictive lncRNA signatures for clinical diagnosis&therapy,our findings will contribute to understanding the pathogenetic process of LSCC.

The Effect of MMP-9 Inhibitors on the Biological Behavior of Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma SCC15 Cell Line Through PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Objective:To investigate the effect of MMP-9 inhibitor(Mki67)on the biology of human oral squamous cell carcinoma SCC15 cell line and to explore its mechanism of action through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.Methods:SCC15 cells were extracted,and the supernatant was discarded.The cells were then rinsed twice with PBS,and 0,2.5,5,and 10μL of Mki67(50 mg/mL)were added to the culture respectively.The inhibition rate of cell proliferation was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)method,and the cell migration was measured by Transwell chamber test.The cell apoptosis rate was detected by cytometry,and the p-Akt protein content in the cells of each group was determined by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kit.Results:The cell proliferation rates of the 2.5μL,5μL,and 10μL dose groups were all lower than the 0μL group(P<0.05)before treatment,and the cell proliferation rates in the 2.5μL,5μL,and 10μL dose groups decreased overtime(P<0.05).After 24 h,with the increase of Mki67 concentration,the number of migration and invasion gradually decreased(P<0.05),and the number of apoptosis gradually increased(P<0.05);besides,the relative expression of MMP-9,PI3K,and Akt mRNA decreased gradually(P<0.05),and the expression level of Akt mRNA was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:MMP-9 inhibitor(Mki67)can inhibit the proliferation and migration of SCC15 cell line and induce apoptosis,and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

COX-2, MMP-7 expression in oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Objective: To observe cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in normal oral mucosa (NOM), oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and explore its significance in the incidence of oral cancer. Methods: The immunohistochemical method and RT-PCR method were applied to detect the expression of COX-2 and MMP-7 in 10 cases with NOM, 33 cases of with OLP and 38 cases with OSCC. Results: The expression of COX-2 mRNA in OSCC tissues (68.4%, 26/38) was significantly higher than in the OLP (24.2%, 8/33) and NOM (0.0%, 0/10) ( P<0.01). The expression of MMP-7 mRNA in OSCC tissues (65.8%, 25/38) was significantly higher than in the OLP (30.3%, 10/33) and NOM (0.0%, 0/10) ( P<0.01). The expression of MMP-7 in OLP was significantly higher than in the NOM ( P<0.05). There was no significant expression of COX-2 protein in NOM, and the positive rate was 42.4% (14/33) and 89.5% (34/38) in OLP and OSCC group, respectively. The COX-2 expression in cancer tissues was significantly higher than in NOM and OLP ( P<0.05). The MMP-7 protein expression in cancer tissues (84.2%, 32/38) was significantly higher than in NOM (10.0%, 1/10) and in OLP (42.4%, 14/33), and the positive rate in OLP was significantly higher than in NOM ( P<0.01). The COX-2 expression was associated with clinical stage ( P<0.05), the MMP-7 expression was associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis ( P<0.05). The expressions of COX-2 and MMP-7 mRNA were positively correlated with OSCC. Conclusions: The abnormal expressions of COX-2 and MMP-7 are closely related to the biological behavior of OSCC, the MMP-7 may be induced by COX-2, and further lead to the invasion and metastasis of OSCC.

Honokiol:a promising small molecular weight natural agent for the growth inhibition of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Honokiol （HNK） is a small organic molecule purified from magnolia species and has demonstrated anticancer activities in a variety of cancer cell lines; however, its effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC） cells is unknown. We investigated the antitumor activities of HNK on OSCC ceils in vitro for the first time. The inhibitory effects of HNK on the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells were demonstrated via in vitro 3-（4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide （MTT） and propidium iodide （PI） assays, and the apoptotic cells were investigated by the observation of morphological changes and detection of DNA fragmentation via PI, TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling （TUNEL）, and DNA ladder assays, as well as flow cytometry assay. The results showed that HNK inhibited the growth and proliferation of OSCC cells in vitro in a time and dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect was associated with the cell apoptosis induced by HNK, evidenced by the morphological features of apoptotic cells, TUNEL-positive cells and a degradation of chromosomal DNA into small internucleosomal fragments. The study also demonstrated here that the inhibition or apoptosis mediated by 15 μg.mL-1 or 20 μg.mL-1 of HNK were more stronger compared with those of 20 μg-mL-1 5-fluorouracil （5-Fu, the control） applied to OSCC cells, when the ratio of OSCC cell numbers were measured between the treatment of different concentrations of HNK to the 5-Fu treatment for 48 h. HNK is a promising compound that can be potentially used as a novel treatment agent for human OSCC.

A review of clinical and histological parameters associated with contralateral neck metastases in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC） has a high incidence of cervical micrometastases and sometimes metastasizes contralaterally because of the rich lymphatic intercommunications relative to submucosal plexus of oral cavity that freely communicate across the midline, and it can facilitate the spread of neoplastic cells to any area of the neck consequently. Clinical and histopathologic factors continue to provide predictive information to contralateral neck metastases （CLNM） in OSCC, which determine prophylactic and adjuvant treatments for an individual patient. This review describes the predictive value of clinical-histopathologic factors, which relate to primary tumor and cervical lymph nodes, and surgical dissection and adjuvant treatments. In addition, the indications for elective contralateral neck dissection and adjuvant radiotherapy （aRT） and strategies for follow-up are offered, which is strongly focused by clinicians to prevent later CLNM and poor prognosis subsequently.

Differential mRNA expression profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma by high-throughput RNA sequencing

Differentially expressed genes are thought to regulate the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas （OSCC）. The purpose of this study was to screen differentially expressed mRNAs in OSCC and matched paraneoplastic normal tissues, and to explore the intrinsic mechanism of OSCC development and progres- sion. We obtained the differentially expressed mRNA expression profiles in 10 pairs of fresh-frozen OSCC tissue specimens and matched paraneoplastic normal tissue specimens by high-throughput RNA sequencing. By using Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses, the functional significance of the differentially expressed genes were analyzed. We identified 1,120 sig- nificantly up-regulated mRNAs and 178 significantly down-regulated mRNAs in OSCC, compared to normal tissue. The differentially expressed mRNAs were involved in 20 biological processes and 68 signal pathways. Compared to adjacent normal tissue, the expression of MAGEAll was up-regulated; TCHH was down-regulated. These find- ings were verified by real-time PCR. These differentially expressed mRNAs may function as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in the development and progression of OSCC. This study provides novel insights into OSCC. However, further work is needed to determine if these differentially expressed mRNAs have potential roles as diagnostic bio- markers and candidate therapeutic targets for OSCC.

The recurrence and survival of oral squamous cell carcinoma: a report of 275 cases

Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) is a common malignant tumor of the head and neck, and recurrence is an important prognostic factor in patients with OSCC. We explored the factors associated with recurrence of OSCC and analyzed the survival of patients after recurrence. Clinicopathologic and follow-up data of 275 patients with OSCC treated by surgery in the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between 2002 and 2006 were analyzed. Recurrence factors were analyzed with Chisquare or Fisher′s exact test and multivariate analysis. The prognosis of patients after recurrence was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The recurrence rate was 32.7%. The recurrence time ranged from 2 to 96 months, with a median of 14 months. Univariate analysis showed that T stage, degree of differentiation, pN stage, flap application, resection margin, and lymphovascular invasion were factors of recurrence (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that T stage, degree of differentiation, and pN stage were independent factors of recurrence (P<0.001). The differences in gender, age, tumor site, region of lymph node metastasis, and perineural invasion between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups were not significant (P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests showed that the 2- and 5-year survival rates were significantly lower in the recurrence group than in non-recurrence group(67.6% vs. 88.0%, 31.8% vs. 79.9%, P<0.001). Therefore, to improve prognosis, we recommend extended local excision, flap, radical neck dissection, and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy for patients more likely to undergo recurrence.

Diagnostic delay in oral squamous cell carcinoma: the role of cognitive and psychological variables

This retrospective study investigated, in two cohorts of subjects living in Southern Italy and awaiting treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma （OSCC）, the variables related to diagnostic delay ascribable to the patient, with particular reference to the cognitive and psychological ones. A total of 156 patients with OSCC （mean age： 62 years, M/F： 2.39 ： 1） were recruited at the Universities of Palermo and Naples. Risk factors related to patient delay included： sociodemographic, health-related, cognitive and psychological variables. The analysis was conducted by considering two different delay ranges： dichotomous （≤1 month vs. 〉 1 month） and polytomous （〈1 month, 1-3 months, 〉3 months） delay. Data were investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses and a Pvalue≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. For both delay measurements, the most relevant variables were： ＇Personal experience of cancer＇ （dichotomous delay： P=0.05, odds ratio （0R）=0.33, 95% confidence interval （CI）=0. 11-0.99; polytomous delay： P=0.006, Chi-square= 10.224） and ＇Unawareness＇ （dichotomous delay： P〈0.01, 0R=4.96, 95% CI--2.16-11.37; polytomous delay： P=0.087, Chi-square=4.77）. Also ＇Denial＇ （P〈0.01, 0R=6.84, 95% CI=2.31-20.24） and ＇Knowledge of cancer＇ （P=0.079, Chi-square=8.359） were found to be statistically significant both for dichotomous and for polytomous categorization of delay, respectively. The findings of this study indicated that, in the investigated cohorts, the knowledge about cancer issues is strongly linked to the patient delay. Educational interventions on the Mediterranean population are necessary in order to increase the patient awareness and to emphasize his/her key role in early diagnosis of OSCC.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Cordycepin on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Proliferation and Apoptosis in Vitro

Cordycepin is an active component of parasitic fungus, Cordyceps militaris, and investigated for its pharmacologic efficacy. Increasing evidence supports the anti-tumoral effects of Cordycepin in various types of human solid tumors. We sought to determine the effects of Cordycepin on oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, KB and HSC3, were used in this study. Cells were treated with Cordycepin or diluent, followed by determinations of proliferation by sulforhodamine method and apoptosis by TUNEL assay in vitro. For in vivo experiments, tumor cells were transplanted into nude mice, followed by treatment with Cordycepin or control diluent. In addition, cells were examined for expression of adenosine receptor isotypes, and tested whether cordycepin-induced effects were mediated through adenosine receptors by combinatorial treatment of cordycepin and antagonists specific to each isotype of adenosine receptors. Two cell lines expressed protein of all types of adenosine receptors stronger than normal oral keratinocytes. Cordycepin showed anti-proliferating effect and apoptotic effect on both cell lines in vitro in a dose dependent manner. However, any adenosine receptors did not reverse the effect of cordycepin. In our in vivo experiments, cordycepin failed to decrease the tumor volume significantly, and failed to induce more apoptosis of tumor cells. Cordycepin has anti-proliferating effect and induces apoptosis not mediated by adenosine receptor on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro. However, in vivo results suggest that cordycepin in itself has a limited value as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Upregulation of vimentin and aberrant expression of E-cadherin /beta-catenin complex in oral squamous cell carcinomas:correlation with the clinicopathological features and patient outcome

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a challenging oncology problem.A reliable biomarker for metastasis or high-risk prognosis in oral cancer patients remains undefined.Using quantitative immunohistochemistry,we examined the expression of vimentin,E-cadherin,and beta-catenin in 83 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients,and the relationships between the expression of these markers and specific clinicopathological features were analysed.The high expression of vimentin was observed in 23 of 43(53%) tumours from patients who eventually developed a recurrent tumour and was associated with recurrence and death(P < 0.001 and < 0.001,respectively).The decreased expression of E-cadherin was observed in 36 of 43(84%) tumours from patients who eventually developed a recurrent tumour and was also associated with recurrence and death(P < 0.001 and < 0.001,respectively).Although no correlation between beta-catenin expression in whole-tumour sections and clinicopathological features was observed,decreased beta-catenin expression at the tumour invasive front was closely associated with recurrence and death(P=0.002 and 0.002,respectively).The expression of vimentin and that of E-cadherin were associated with survival and were independent prognostic factors in univariate and multivariate analyses.Our data show that the overexpression of vimentin was closely associated with recurrence and death in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.The combination of the upregulation of vimentin and aberrant expression of E-cadherin/beta-catenin complexes at the tumour invasive front may provide a useful prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Black phosphorous nanosheets−gold nanoparticles−cisplatin for photothermal/photodynamic treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma

To improve five-year survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),the development of a novel composite material of black phosphorus nanosheets(BPNSs)and gold nanoparticles(AuNPs)for tumor treatment was carried out.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cytostatic effects of BPNSs,AuNPs loaded with cisplatin(CDDP)on human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells lines(SCC-9),and 7,12-dimethylbenz anthracene induced cheek squamous cell carcinoma was validated in golden hamsters animal models.The results showed that BPNSs could efficiently inhibit the metastasis and growth of OSCC compared with CDDP and AuNPs.And a combination composite of AuNPs−BPNSs loaded with CDDP could more effectively inhibit the metastasis and growth of OSCC,which might be due to the high drug-loading capacity,excellent photothermal properties and the combination of photodynamic and photothermal therapy of BPNSs and AuNPs,as well as the synergistic effects of AuNPs,BPNSs and CDDP.

Neck observation versus elective neck dissection in management of clinical T1/2N0 oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study of 232 patients

Objective: The management of early-stage (cT1/2N0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a controversial issue. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of neck observation (OBS) and elective neck dissection (END) in treating patients with cT1/2N0 OSCC. Methods: A total of 232 patients with cT1/2N0 OSCC were included in this retrospective study. Of these patients, 181 were treated with END and 51 with OBS. The survival curves of 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method for each group, and compared using the Log-rank test. Results: There was no significant difference in 5-year OS and DSS rates between END and OBS groups (OS: 89.0% vs. 88.2%, P=0.906; DSS: 92.3% vs. 92.2%, P=0.998). However, the END group had a higher 5-year RFS rate than the OBS group (90.1% vs. 76.5%, P=0.009). Patients with occult metastases in OBS group (7/51) had similar 5-year OS rate (57.1% vs. 64.1%, P=0.839) and DSS rate (71.4% vs. 74.4%, P=0.982) to those in END group (39/181). In the regional recurrence patients, the 5-year OS rate (57.1% vs. 11.1%, P=0.011) and DSS rate (71.4% vs. 22.2%, P=0.022) in OBS group (7/51) were higher than those in END group (9/181). Conclusions: The results indicated that OBS policy could obtain the same 5-year OS and DSS as END. Under close follow-up, OBS policy may be an available treatment option for patients with clinical T1/2N0 OSCC.

Identification of oral squamous cell carcinoma in optical coherence tomography images based on texture features

Surgical excision is an effective treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC),but exact intraoperative differentiation OSCC from the normal tissue is the first premise.As a noninvasive imaging technique,optical coherence tomography(OCT)has the nearly same resolution as the histopathological examination,whose images contain rich information to assist surgeons to make clinical decisions.We extracted kinds of texture features from OCT images obtained by a home-made swept-source OCT system in this paper,and studied the identification of OSCC based on different combinations of texture features and machine learning classifiers.It was demonstrated that different combinations had different accuracies,among which the combination of texture features,gray level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM),Laws'texture measnres(LM),and center symmetric auto-correlation(CSAC),and SVM as the classifier,had the optimal comprehensive identification effect,whose accuracy was 94.1%.It was proven that it is feasible to distinguish OSCC based on texture features in OCT images,and it has great potential in helping surgeons make rapid and accurate decisions in oral clinical practice.

Expression of p53, p21^(CIP1/WAF1) and eIF4E in the adjacent tissues of oral squamous cell carcinoma:establishing the molecular boundary and a cancer progression model

The present study evaluated the expression of key molecules and the status of DNA in both oral squamous cell carcinoma（OSCC） and adjacent tissues to establish a molecular surgical boundary and provide a cancer progression model. Biopsy samples from 50 OSCC patients were divided into T（cancer）, P1（0–0.5 cm）, P2（0.5–1 cm）, P3（1–1.5 cm） and P4（1.5–2 cm） groups based on the distances from the visible boundary of the primary focus. Twenty samples of normal mucosa were used as controls. We used immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry to evaluate p53, p21CIP1/WAF1, e IF4 E and Ki-67 expression and to determine DNA status, respectively. Sub-mucosal invasion was present in the P1 and P2 groups as determined by haematoxylin and eosin staining.Mutant p53 expression decreased gradually from cancerous to normal mucosae, whereas p21CIP1/WAF1 expression displayed an opposite trend. e IF4 E expression decreased from cancerous to normal mucosae. Ki-67 expression, the heteroploidy ratio, S-phase fraction and proliferative index decreased gradually with the distance from the tumour centre. Based on these results, we suggest that the resection boundary in OSCC surgery should be beyond 2 cm from the tumour. Additionally, the adjacent tissues of the primary focus could be used as a model for assessing cancer progression.