Abstract:

Objective:The objective of this study was to determine the expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B) subtypes and their relationship with the mechanisms of squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) growth.Methods:Totally 40 cases of surgical specimens of OSCC resected between 1998 and 2000 and 20 cases of normal human oral mucosa were investigated. Strepto-adri- dinibiotin complex (SABC) immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze the expression of TGF-Bprotein subtypes and their relations with clinical prognosis of OSCC.Results:Semi-quantitative analysis revealed that the subtypes 1, 2 and 3 of TGF-Bpro- tein could be found in OSCC cells and normal oral epithelial cells, however the intensity of protein expressionwas different. Com- paring with those in normal oral mucosa epithelial cells, the subtypes 1 and 2 of TGF-Bwere over-expressed in OSCC cells. The over-expression of subtypes 1 and 2 of TGF-Bproteinwere associatedwith theirpathological grades, clinical stages and neck lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), whilstthe subtype 3 protein of TGF-Bwas not.Conclusion:Itwill be useful to detectthe expression of TGF-Bsubtypes in OSCC, as the subtypes 1 and 2 of TGF-Bmay play an important role in OSCC growth and metastasis.

Key words: transforming growth factor beta, oral neoplasm, metastasis