Expression of p63 and CD44 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and correlation with clinicopathological parameters

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the sixth most frequent malignant tumor of the head and neck region. Despite advances in therapeutic options over the last decades, the rate of mortality and morbidity has not been improved markedly. A small subset of cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), with self-renewal properties have become a major focus of current cancer research. CD44 and p63 are identified as candidate stem cell markers in normal squamous epithelium and SCC. The role of these markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still debatable. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunohistochemical expression of these markers in OSCC samples and also correlates the expression of these markers with some clinicopathological parameters of prognostic significance including histological grading, TNM staging, overall survival (OS) rate as well as patients' age, gender, and tumor location. CD44 and p63 were expressed in all studied lesions with different degrees. Statistically significant difference was observed between CD44 and p63 expression with tumor grade and stage with higher expression in high grade and advanced OSCCs. No significant relationship was detected between markers immunoreactivity and patients age, gender, tumor location as well as OS. These markers can possibly advance our understanding of the initiating mechanisms and pathogenesis of OSCC and also result in novel therapeutic target in cancer treatment.