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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Fabrication of Tongue Extracellular Matrix and Reconstitution of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro
Published on: June 20, 2018
Prognostic implications of CD44, NANOG, OCT4, and BMI1 expression in tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Maria Fernanda Setúbal Destro Rodrigues1,2, Flávia Caló de Aquino Xavier3, Nathália Paiva Andrade1
1Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Department, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Background:
Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) contains a cell subpopulation referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are responsible for tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The CSC markers have been used to isolate these cells and as biomarkers to predict overall survival.
Methods:
The CSC markers CD44, NANOG, OCT4, and BMI1 were investigated using reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters.
Results:
The CD44 overexpression was associated with disease-related death (P = 0.02) and worst prognosis. NANOG was upregulated in nontumoral margins and associated with T1/T2 classification, lymph node metastasis, and worst prognosis. OCT4 was associated with lymph node metastasis and worst overall survival. BMI1 and CD44v3 were overexpressed in tongue SCC. Coexpression of CD44++ /NANOG++ was associated with worst overall survival when compared with patients with CD44-/+ /NANOG-/+ .
Conclusion:
The CSC markers might play an important role not only in CSC trait acquisition but also in tongue SCC development and progression.
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