Overexpression of runt-related transcription factor-1 at invasive front in oral squamous cell carcinoma is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis

This study aims to examine clinical significance of Runt-Related Transcription Factor-1 (RUNX1) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). RUNX1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in 43 patients with OSCC. The clinical significance of RUNX1 expression was evaluated by Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model. The expression of RUNX1 at invasive front was significantly higher than that at central part of tumor (P < 0.01). OSCC patients with high RUNX1-Labeling Index (LI) at invasive front had significantly shorter overall survival period (P < 0.05) as compared with low RUNX1-LI at invasive front. Poorer prognosis of patients with higher RUNX1-LI at invasive front was supported by the data that the RUNX1-LI at invasive front was statistically correlated with poor differentiation (P < 0.05), invasiveness (P < 0.01), and post-operative lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Moreover, high RUNX1-LI at invasive front was demonstrated to be an independent prognostic factor for unfavorable overall survival (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest for the first time that overexpression of RUNX1 at the invasive front in OSCC can be a valuable marker to evaluate lymph node metastasis as well as a promising predictor of poor prognosis.

lymph node metastasis

oral squamous cell carcinoma

prognosis

runt-related transcription factor-1