SHH Expression Is Significantly Associated With Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly invasive malignancy with poor prognosis. Recent reports suggest that Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) plays a key role in tumor progression and worsens the response to therapy, possibly through an association with a cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype. The objective of our study was to investigate the relationship between SHH expression and CSC markers in OSCC.

A total of 67 OSCC specimens were immunostained for SHH and CSC markers using specific antibodies and expression was correlated with clinicopathological parameters.

SHH expression was significantly correlated with CD133 (p=0.026, r=0.272) and SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2; p<0.001, r=0.793). SHH and SOX2 expression were associated with worse survival in OSCC (p=0.003 and p=0.003, respectively). In multivariate analysis SHH and CD44 were independent prognostic biomarkers in patients with OSCC (p=0.001 and p=0.008, respectively).

Our study revealed that SHH overexpression is closely associated with CSC markers, contributing to tumor progression and worse outcomes of patients with OSCC.