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Background: Oncostatin M receptor is an interleukin 6 receptor with great influence on inflammation and cancer progression. However, the function of oncostatin M receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma remains unknown. Methods: Oncostatin M receptor expression was explored with TIMER and TCGA databases. The mRNA and protein expressions of oncostatin M receptor were detected in oral tissues. The association between oncostatin M receptor expression and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed, and the prognostic value of oncostatin M receptor was determined. Immune statues of oncostatin M receptor were analyzed by TIMER and TISIDB. The underlying mechanisms of oncostatin M receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma was also explored preliminarily. Results: Oncostatin M receptor was dysregulated in many cancers. Both mRNA and protein levels of oncostatin M receptor in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than that in normal oral tissues. Oncostatin M receptor expression was connected to differentiation, lymph node metastasis, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, perineural invasion and vascular invasion. Oncostatin M receptor expression was an independent prognostic factor associated with overall survivals. Oncostatin M receptor expression was significantly related to CD8+ T cell and interleukin 6 receptor. High oncostatin M receptor expression was associated with focal adhesion, extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Conclusion: Oncostatin M receptor was overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma and related to overall survival. Oncostatin M receptor expression has potential to become an effective prognostic biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5), a core member of Mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) and SET1 histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase complexes, is involved in multiple biological and pathological processes. Its deregulation in cancer and pro-tumorigenic roles has been increasingly appreciated. However, the expression pattern of WDR5 and its biological functions in head neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) have not been well established.Methods: The expression of WDR5 mRNA in HNSCC was determined by data mining and interrogation using publicly available databases. Its protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry in a retrospective cohort of primary HNSCC samples. Moreover, the associations between WDR5 expression and various clinicopathological parameters and patient survival were assessed. The pro-tumorigenic roles of WDR5 in HNSCC were further delineated in vitro by loss-of-function assay.Results: Our bioinformatics analyses revealed that WDR5 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in 3 HNSCC cohorts. WDR5 protein was markedly upregulated in HNSCC samples as compared to normal counterparts and its overexpression significantly associated with large tumor size, advanced clinical stage (chi-square test, P = .048, .006) and reduced overall and disease-free survival (Kaplan-Mier analyses, Log-rank test, P = .0137, .0154). Univariate and multivariate survival analyses further revealed WDR5 protein abundance as an independent prognostic factor for patients' overall survival. Moreover, WDR5 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in HNSCC cells.Conclusions: Our findings reveal that WDR5 is aberrantly overexpressed in HNSCC and associates with aggressiveness and unfavorable prognosis, thus representing a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HNSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are regarded as adaptive immune response of the host to cancer cells and valuable prognostic factors. Here, we sought to characterize the densities and locations of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs in primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) samples and assess their clinicopathological and prognostic significance.Methods: A total number of 169 OSCC samples from 2 independent patient cohorts (Nanjing cohort, 93 cases; Wuxi cohort, 76 cases) were retrospectively collected. The numbers of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs at tumor center (CT) and invasive margin (IM) of OSCC were identified by immunohistochemistry and calculated. The optimal cutoff values for CD3+ and CD8+ TILs to stratify patients were determined by X-tile software in Nanjing cohort and further utilized in Wuxi cohort. The associations between CD3+ /CD8+ TILs and clinicopathological parameters or patient survival were assessed. The prognostic values of CD3+ / CD8+ TILs were evaluated by Cox regression analyses.Results: CD3+ and CD8+ TILs were identified at both CT and IM and enriched at IM. High density of CD3+ TILs at IM (CD3 IM) was significantly associated with increased overall and disease-specific survival (P < .05). High density of CD8+ TILs at CT (CD8 CT) was significantly associated with increased overall but not disease-specific survival. Moreover, CD3 IM and CD8 CT were identified as independent prognostic factors for patient survival.Conclusions: Our findings provide further evidence to support the prognostic values of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs for OSCC, suggesting that TIL subsets might be viable biomarkers and therapeutic targets with translational significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aberrant level of serum bilirubin, marker of hepatobiliary and hematological disorders, was associated with patient prognosis in several human malignancies. In this study, we aim to evaluate the predictive value of serum bilirubin for clinicopathologic characteristics and survival of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 129 patients with OSCC and 129 normal controls matched for age and sex. The association between levels of preoperative direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), total bilirubin (TBIL), and clinical variables was analyzed. A proportional hazards regression model was used to find out the independent predictors of survival.Results: Significantly lower TBIL (P = .009) and IBIL (P < .001) were found in OSCC patients compared with normal controls. DBIL (P = .011) and lymph-node metastasis (P = .031) were found to be independent prognostic factors. Patients with higher DBIL (≥4.0 μmol/L) had longer overall survival than those with lower DBIL (P = .002). Patients with both lymph-node metastasis and lower DBIL showed the shortest overall survival (P = .001).Conclusions: Lower DBIL was associated with a poorer prognosis and may be regarded as an independent prognostic marker for patients with OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several serum lipid components have been implicated in the development of cancer. However, the prognostic significance of serum lipid components in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is unknown. Here, we investigated the predictive value of serum lipid profile at diagnosis and in the overall survival of the patients.Methods: The study population consists of 136 pathologically confirmed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cases diagnosed between years 2009 and 2014 at a tertiary medical center. Levels of preoperative serum lipid component's total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein A, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein (a) were compared between patients and normal controls matched for age and gender. Serum lipid profiles and their association with clinical parameters were analyzed. The effects of the serum lipid components on survival were examined using the proportional hazards regression model to estimate hazard ratio.Results: Significant lower levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, apolipoprotein A, and apolipoprotein B were found in patients with oral cancer (P < 0.0001). However, a significantly higher level of lipoprotein (a) was found in the cancer group (P < 0.0001). Patients with higher lipoprotein (a) had significantly shorter overall survival than those with lower lipoprotein (a) (P = 0.0042). Multivariate analysis showed that both higher lipoprotein (a) and lymph node metastasis are independent prognostic factors in the patient population (P < 0.01).Conclusion: A higher lipoprotein (a) was associated with poorer prognosis and might be a novel marker in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The histone lysine-specific demethylase ( LSD1) is a key chromatin modifier mediating the demethylation of both H3K4me1/me2 and H3K9 me1/me2. Recently, its deregulation has been implicated in the initiation and progression of various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression pattern of LSD1 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma ( SCC) and determine its prognostic significance in predicting patients' prognosis. Methods LSD1 expression was examined by RT- PCR and western blotting in three tongue cancer cell lines and by immunohistochemistry in 63 primary tongue SCC specimens with detailed clinical, pathological, and follow-up data. Its associations with various clinicopathological parameters, Ki-67 expression, and patients' survival were further assessed. Results Upregulated LSD1 expression was observed in tongue cancer cells and a major fraction of tongue SCC samples. Overexpression of LSD1 significantly associated with tumor size ( P = 0.0357), pathological grade ( P = 0.0323), Ki-67 abundance ( P = 0.0148), and reduced overall and disease-free survival (Kaplan-Meier analysis, P = 0.0351, 0.0479, respectively). The Cox regression survival analyses identified LSD1 as an important independent predictor for patients' overall survival. Conclusion Our data indicate that aberrant LSD1 overexpression associates with key clinicopathological features and unfavorable prognosis in patients with tongue cancer. LSD1 might play critical roles during tongue tumorigenesis and represent a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for this malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif ( TAZ) is a key downstream effector of Hippo signaling pathway involved in stem cell differentiation and organ development. Recently, its deregulation has been linked to initiation and progression of various cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of TAZ in tongue squamous cell carcinoma ( TSCC) and its prognostic value in predicting patients' outcomes. Methods TAZ expression and localization in a panel of TSCC cell lines and human immortalized oral epithelial cell ( HIOEC) were determined by real-time RT- PCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. In 52 TSCC tumor specimens with detailed clinical and follow-up data, TAZ abundance was examined by immunohistochemistry and its associations with clinicopathological parameters, Ki-67 expression and patients' survival were further assessed. Results TAZ mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in TSCC cells and specimens than those in non-cancerous cells and normal tongue mucosa. Overexpression of TAZ in TSCC was significantly associated with tumor size ( P = 0.033), pathological grade ( P = 0.026), clinical stage ( P = 0.013), Ki-67 expression ( P = 0.0485), and reduced overall and disease-free survival (Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank test, P = 0.020, 0.019, respectively). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified TAZ as an important independent predictor for survival of patients with TSCC [ HR (hazard ratio), 4.351; 95% CI (95% confidence interval), 1.477-12.819; P = 0.008]. Conclusion Our data indicate that aberrant TAZ overexpression is associated with key clinicopathological features and poor survival in TSCC. These results suggest that TAZ might play critical roles in tumorigenesis of TSCC and become a novel prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for this malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]