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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
06:53
Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Altered keratin expression in buccal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma
M M Vaidya1, A M Borges, S A Pradhan
1Cancer Research Institute, Parel, Bombay, India.
Summary
Squamous cell carcinomas of the buccal mucosa show altered keratin expression compared to normal tissue. Loss of keratins 5 and 13 indicates malignant transformation, while aberrant keratins correlate with tumor differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the buccal mucosa is a significant oral cancer.
- Cytokeratins are intermediate filament proteins crucial for epithelial cell structure and function.
- Aberrant cytokeratin expression is a hallmark of various cancers, including oral SCC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze and compare cytokeratin expression patterns in normal buccal mucosa and squamous cell carcinomas.
- To investigate the relationship between cytokeratin expression profiles and the differentiation status of buccal mucosa SCC.
- To identify specific cytokeratins associated with malignant transformation and tumor grade.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of cytokeratin expression in 26 buccal mucosa SCC samples (14 moderately differentiated, 12 well-differentiated) and normal adjacent tissues.
- Techniques employed included SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, and two-dimensional electrophoresis.
- Comparison of protein expression profiles between tumor tissues and normal controls.
Main Results:
- Normal buccal mucosa expresses keratins 4, 5, 13, and 14.
- Keratins 4 and 14 were expressed in most tumors, while keratins 5 and 13 were frequently absent.
- Aberrant expression of keratins 1, 16, 17, and 18 was observed, particularly in well-differentiated tumors.
- Tumors involving alveolar mucosa showed some keratins similar to their normal counterparts, with altered expression correlating to differentiation.
Conclusions:
- The non-expression of keratins 5 and 13 is a significant indicator of malignant transformation in buccal mucosa SCC.
- The appearance of aberrant keratins (e.g., 1, 16, 17, 18) is associated with the degree of tumor differentiation.
- Cytokeratin profiling can serve as a biomarker for assessing malignancy and differentiation in buccal SCC.
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