Immunohistochemical expression of the high-mobility group box-1 protein in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: the significance of its overexpression and subcellular localization

Aim of the work: The aim of the present study was to investigate high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) expression and subcellular distribution in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissue. Materials and methods: Using immunohistochemistry, HMGB1 protein expression in 72 HNSCC specimens and its association with the clinicopathological characteristics were investigated. Tumour proliferation indices (PIs) were also assessed using Ki-67 immunoreactivity and examined for the presence of a possible correlation with HMGB1 expression. Results: Nuclear HMGB1 expression was detected in 84.8% of the tumours, and among them, 39 (54.2%) cases showed high expression scores. A significantly higher expression was found in HNSCC than in the adjacent non-neoplastic epithelium (P=0.001). In HNSCC cases, nuclear HMGB1 overexpression was significantly associated with lymphatic spread, tumour classification, the clinical stage and a high tumour PI (P
Source: Egyptian Journal of Pathology - Category: Pathology Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research