Distinctive clinical and microscopic features of squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity and lip.

This study was undertaken to gain insight into the distinctive features of squamous cell carcinoma of the lip (LSCC) and oral cavity (OCSCC). A total of 37 cases of LSCC and 54 of OCSCC were compared regarding clinical and microscopic findings. Predominance of head and neck TNM stages (HNTNM) T1-T2 in LSCC and T3-T4 in OCSCC was observed. A significant percentage (33.3%) of patients with OCSCC at HNTNM T1-T2 presented cervical lymph node metastasis and 18.75% died, whereas lymph node metastasis was absent and no patient died with LSCC at HNTNM T1-T2. LSCC demonstrated a higher number of cases with intense peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate compared with OCSCC. The analysis of the proliferative index demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of PCNA+ and Ki-67+ cells in OCSCC compared with LSCC. Our results suggest that OCSCC and LSCC demonstrate distinct clinical and microscopic characteristics that reflect different biologic behavior and prognosis.

Batista AC ，Costa NL ，Oton-Leite AF ，Mendonça EF ，Alencar Rde C ，Silva TA ... -  《-》

Differential infiltration of CD8+ and NK cells in lip and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Zancope E ，Costa NL ，Junqueira-Kipnis AP ，Valadares MC ，Silva TA ，Leles CR ，Mendonça EF ，Batista AC ... -  《-》

Prognostic significance of lymph node reactivity in the control of pathologic negative node squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity.

Cernea C ，Montenegro F ，Castro I ，Cordeiro A ，Gayotto L ，Ferraz A ，de Carlucci D Jr ... -  《-》

Midkine expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma and leukoplakia.

Midkine (MK), a 13-kDa heparin-binding growth factor, is overexpressed in various human cancers. However, its role in the development and progression of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is still unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of MK in samples of OCSCC, leukoplakia, and healthy oral mucosa (control). Surgically excised specimens from patients with primary OCSCC (n = 28) were immunostained for MK, Ki-67, PCNA, p53, bcl-2, Bax, and CD31. Besides this, MK expression was also investigated in leukoplakia and normal oral mucosa. The relationship of MK(+) cells with clinical parameters (tumor location, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and survival) and microscopic parameters (WHO histological grading, intensity of inflammation, proliferation index, apoptosis, and angiogenesis) was also evaluated. The results showed that MK expression was increased in OCSCC in relation to leukoplakia and normal mucosa. Furthermore, MK expression was increased in late-stage tumors (T3/T4) compared with early-stage lesions (T1/T2). MK-positive lesions also showed increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2. OCSCC, particularly late-stage tumors, exhibits increased MK expression, which may be involved in tumor progression via upregulation of anti-apoptotic genes, as shown by the augmented bcl-2 positivity in MK-positive tumors.

Jham BC ，Costa NL ，Silva JM ，de Miranda AC ，Oliveira JC ，Silva TA ，Batista AC ... -  《-》

Association of CCL2 with lymph node metastasis and macrophage infiltration in oral cavity and lip squamous cell carcinoma.

We investigated the expression of CCL2 by immunohistochemistry in samples of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes. The relationship of CCL2 with survival data was also evaluated. The percentage of CCL2+ cells in tumor parenchyma was similar in OCSCC and LSCC. In stroma, OCSCC showed a higher number of CCL2+ cells when compared with LSCC. In contrast, higher CD68+ macrophage counts were observed in LSCC. Low macrophage counts were significantly related to a greater proliferative index in tumoral cells. The density of CCL2+ nodal cells was significantly higher in metastatic lymph nodes when compared with nonmetastatic lymph nodes. When considering CCL2 in the parenchyma, the mean survival time for the patients with high CCL2+ cell counts was lower than that for patients with low CCL2+ cell counts. In contrast, in stroma, the mean survival time for the patients with high CCL2+ cell percentages was higher than for those with low CCL2+ cell percentages. Our findings suggest a role for CCL2 in the spreading of tumoral cells to the lymph node in OCSCC. Furthermore, the CCL2-independent macrophage infiltration may play a role in determining less aggressive behavior.

Ferreira FO ，Ribeiro FL ，Batista AC ，Leles CR ，de Cássia Gonçalves Alencar R ，Silva TA ... -  《-》