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

Creators Hisano Takahiro

Creators Cui Dan

Creators Harada Koji

Creators Kimura Tokuhiro

Creators Mishima Katsuaki

Creators Ikeda Eiji

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.

[ISSN]0513-1812

[NCID]AA00594272