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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Fabrication of Tongue Extracellular Matrix and Reconstitution of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro
Published on: June 20, 2018
Association between the Worst Pattern of Tumor Invasion and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition and their Prognostic
G M Divya1,2, Shaji Thomas1, K R Anila3
1Division of Head & Neck Services, Department of Surgical Oncology, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala India.
Purpose:
We aimed to determine the association between the worst pattern of tumor invasion (WPOI) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in early-stage oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) with no adverse features and their impact on 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates.
Methods:
This prospective observational study included treatment-naive 50 patients who underwent primary surgery for OTSCC (pT1T2N0M0; AJCC 8th edition, with no adverse features) from June 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021 (minimum follow-up period, 2 years). WPOI (low- or high-invasive) and EMT (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin expression at the tumor invasive front) were assessed.
Results:
High invasive WPOI was seen in 66% and low invasive in 34%. 80% of the patients had EMT. No statistically significant association was found between WPOI and EMT. The OS and DFS at 2 years were 90% and 80% respectively. WPOI had statistically significant impact on 2-year DFS (100% for low & 69.7% for high, p-value 0.014). EMT did not significantly affect DFS or OS rates.
Conclusions:
In early stage OTSCC with no adverse features, WPOI can be a promising predictor for disease recurrence. However, this should be validated for modifying treatment guidelines.
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