Correlation of S100A4 expression with invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

S100A4 is known to be involved in cancer cell motility by virtue of its ability to activate non-muscle myosin. In the current study, we investigated the interrelationship of clinico-pathological findings and S100A4 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The expression of S100A4 was examined immunohistochemically in 41 clinical specimens of oral SCC. S100A4 expression was detected in 11 (26.8%) of 41 cases. Although the expression of S100A4 was not associated with the primary tumor site and degree of differentiation, there was a significant correlation between the increased S100A4-expression and the mode of invasion (p < 0.0001). In addition, the S100A4 status showed a clear correlation with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). These results lead us to conclude that S100A4 expression status may be a useful prognostic factor in patients with invasive and metastatic oral SCCs.