Abstract:

Objective　To study the regulation and effect of the expression of nm23-H1 gene in different processes of re- gional lymph node metastases of oral squamous cell carcinomas(OSCC).Methods　By immunohistochemical analysis in 200 paraf- fin-embedded tissues of OSCC and Western Blot in 9 fresh tissues of OSCC using a monoclonal antibody, the expression of nm23-H1/NDPK-Awere detected in dividing groups accompanied with the clinical and pathological data of cervical lymph node metastases and modes of invasion.Results　The rates of negative expression of nm23-H1/NDPK-A had significant differences be- tween metastatic cases(34/81) and non-metastatic cases(15/119). The nm23-H1/NDPK-A negative group showed higher frequen- cy of lymph node metasteses (P<0.01). In the different metastatic processes, There were significantly differential expressions of nm23-H1/NDPK-A among stage N0,N1 and N2(P<0.01), distinct involved quantities of lymph nodes (P<0.01), dissimilar metastatic involved levels(P<0.05) , definite modes of invasion(P<0.01) and different cell differentiations(P<0.01). There were much higher negative expressions in those cases of N1 stage(23/38), only one lymph node to be involved(23/39), metastas- ized to submandibular nodes or/and superior deep cervical nodes(17/28 and 12/29, respectively),Ⅳc types of invasion(33/54) and poor differentiations(9/19).Conclusion　The results indicated that nm23-H1/NDPK-A played an more important role in switching the initial metastases formation than in influencing the later metastases spread because the negative expressions of nm23-H1/NDPK-A in solid tumors of OSCCwould induce the formation of highmetastatic cellular subpopulations. Itwas also con- firmed that nm23-H1 gene might be a metastatic suppressor and may be useful in predicting the initial lymph node metastases in OSCC.

Key words: nm23-H1/NDPK-A, lymph node, metastases, oral squamous cell carcinomas