Epithelial and stromal syndecan-1 and -2 are distinctly expressed in oral- and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are epithelial neoplasms of which OSCC has worse survival and higher risk of metastasis than CSCC. The aim of this study was to explore the differences of immunoexpressions between syndecan-1 and -2 in OSCC and head and neck CSCC.

METHODS:

A total of 35 patients diagnosed with OSCC and 25 with CSCC, presented T1 and T2 tumors and treated at Helsinki University Central Hospital between years 2001 and 2009, were selected into this study. The levels and locations of syndecan-1 and -2 immunostainings were analyzed using formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples of OSCC and CSCC cases together with clinical data.

RESULTS:

Cell membrane epithelial syndecan-1 expression decreased significantly compared to normal tissue in both cancer types. Cell membrane syndecan-1 expression in the invasive front had negative correlation with invasion depth of both tumors (OSCC, r = -0.339, P = 0.025; CSCC, r = -0.469, P = 0.004). In cancers over 4-mm invasion depth, the number of stromal syndecan-1-positive collagen fibers and inflammatory cells were higher in OSCC than in CSCC. Syndecan-2 expression in non-malignant stroma was higher in CSCC than in OSCC tumors. In addition, unlike syndecan-1, syndecan-2 was more often and more intensively expressed in the tumor inflammatory cells in CSCC than in OSCC.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that variable stromal expression of syndecan-1 and -2 in OSCC compared to CSCC may at least partially explain the differences in their clinical behavior.

• Authors: Abdirisak Ahmed Haji Omar, Caj Haglund, Susanna Virolainen, Valtteri Häyry, Timo Atula, Risto Kontio, Jarmo Rihtniemi, Antti Pihakari, Tuula Salo, Jaana Hagström, Timo Sorsa
• Journal: Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology (J Oral Pathol Med) Vol. 42 Issue 5 Pg. 389-95 (May 2013) ISSN: 1600-0714 [Electronic] Denmark
• PMID: 23278563 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Chemical References

• SDC1 protein, human
• Syndecan-1
• Syndecan-2
• Collagen

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (pathology)
• Cell Membrane (pathology)
• Collagen (ultrastructure)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Cytoplasm (pathology)
• Epithelial Cells (pathology)
• Facial Neoplasms (pathology)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (genetics)
• Humans
• Inflammation (pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Neoplasms (pathology)
• Neoplasm Invasiveness
• Neoplasm Staging
• Skin Neoplasms (pathology)
• Stromal Cells (pathology)
• Survival Rate
• Syndecan-1 (analysis)
• Syndecan-2 (analysis)