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CD44 and CD74: The promising candidates for molecular targeted therapy in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Pouyan Amini Shakib1, Fereshteh Ensani2, Afshin Abdirad2
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran ; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Considering molecular target therapy concept in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), many attempts have been performed to introduce an effective molecular marker during recent years. Several investigations have emphasized on the role of CD44 in various cancers and few studies have mentioned CD24 and CD74. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between CD44, CD24 and CD74 expressions and several clinical or histopathological factors in OSCC patients.
Materials And Methods:
In our analytical cross-sectional study, forty primary OSCC specimens were immunohistochemically stained for CD44, CD24, and CD74 proteins. Then, the relationship between their expressions and age, sex, lymph node metastasis, and histopathologic grading was statistically analyzed using Mann-Whitney nonparametric and t-test. Furthermore, P < 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results:
CD44 and CD74 proteins were significantly over-expressed in OSCC patients with high grade (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001) as compared to those with low grade. Furthermore, CD74 immunoreactivity showed significantly higher expression in patients with lower age (P = 0.039). Considering lymph node metastasis, we observed significant overexpression of CD74 in patients with no lymph node involvement (P = 0.033).
Conclusion:
Our observations support the significant role of membranous CD44 protein in progression of OSCC and also introduce CD74 protein as a probable interfering factor in different aspects of OSCC.
Insights
CD44 and CD74 proteins are overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and may indicate disease progression. CD74 is also linked to younger age and lack of lymph node metastasis in OSCC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treatment is exploring molecular targeted therapies.
- CD44 is a known cancer marker; CD24 and CD74 roles are less understood.
- Identifying reliable molecular markers is crucial for OSCC management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of CD44, CD24, and CD74 in OSCC.
- To correlate these protein expressions with clinical and histopathological factors in OSCC patients.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining of 40 primary OSCC specimens for CD44, CD24, and CD74.
- Statistical analysis of protein expression against age, sex, lymph node metastasis, and tumor grade.
- Utilized Mann-Whitney and t-tests, with P < 0.05 considered significant.
Main Results:
- CD44 and CD74 were significantly overexpressed in high-grade OSCC.
- CD74 showed higher expression in younger patients.
- CD74 was significantly overexpressed in OSCC patients without lymph node metastasis.
Conclusions:
- Membranous CD44 protein plays a significant role in OSCC progression.
- CD74 protein may be an important factor influencing various aspects of OSCC.
- These findings highlight potential therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for OSCC.
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