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Future Dental Journal

ORCID

0000-0003-0271-3656

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is typically discovered at an early stage; nevertheless, regional lymph node metastases are prevalent; therefore, surgical excision of the primary tumor is commonly coupled with neck dissection and radiotherapy. Cancer cells become invasive by acquiring a mesenchymal phenotype, a process known as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Vimentin, α-SMA and TGF-β expressions are believed to take part in EMT and tumor progression. Aim: this work aimed to evaluate the expression of Vimentin, α-SMA and TGF-β on OSCC progression and hence propose potential role as potential prognostic markers or therapeutic targets. Materials and methods: twenty-four specimens of different OSCC grades were divided according to Broader`s classification into three groups I, II and III. Mean area fraction of immunopositivity for Vimentin, α-SMA and TGF-β expressions as well as clinical lymph-node involvement was evaluated for each group. Results: α-SMA and TGF-β were significantly upregulated in poorly differentiated OSCC and α-SMA expression correlated with lymph node involvement. Vimentin expression was highest in moderately differentiated OSCC and didn’t correlate with lymph-node involvement. Conclusion: α-SMA is suggested to be a better prognostic factor than vimentin for OSCC progression.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54623/fdj.9015

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