Stomatin-like protein-2 is over-expressed during progression of clinically N0 tongue squamous cell cancer.

Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2) contributes to tumorigenesis, progression and decreased overall survival in several human cancers. The present study investigated the clinical and prognostic significance of SLP-2 in clinically N0 tongue squamous cell cancer. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine SLP-2 protein expression in paraffin-embedded tissues from 181 patients with clinically N0 tongue squamous cell cancer (cN0 TSCC). Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the diagnostic value and the associations of SLP-2 expression with clinical parameters. Real-time PCR and western blotting analyses were employed to examine SLP-2 expression in four tongue squamous cell cancer cell lines, primary cultured normal tongue epithelial cells (TEC) and eight matched pairs of tongue squamous cell cancer samples and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples from the same patient. SLP-2 protein level was positively correlated with clinical stage, T classification, N classification, recurrence and even vital status. Patients with higher SLP-2 expression had shorter overall survival time than patients with lower SLP-2 expression. SLP-2 mRNA and protein was up-regulated in tongue squamous cell cancer cell lines and cancerous tissues compared with the expressing in TEC and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples,respectively. Our results suggest that SLP-2 expression is associated with cN0 TSCC progression. The examination of SLP-2 protein expression is potentially valuable in prognostic eva...
Source: Head and Neck Oncology - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research