Imunoexpressão das proteínas twist e e-caderina em carcinoma epidermoide de lábio inferior

Abstract

Lower lip squamous cell carcinoma (LLSCC) accounts for approximately 30% of all cases of oral cancer, and results mainly from chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation. E-cadherin and Twist proteins represent biomarkers involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process, a determinant event in the potential for tumor invasion. The objective of this study was to analyze the immunoexpression pattern of Twist and E-cadherin proteins in LLSCC, investigating possible associations with clinical-pathological parameters indicative of tumor behavior, as well as to evaluate the correlation between proteins. We also evaluated the correlation between Twist and E-cadherin proteins in LLSCC cases. For the analysis of histopathological grading systems of malignancy, the systems proposed by Bryne et al. (1992), Brandwein-Gensler et al. (2005) and Almangush et al. (2014). Increased expression of E-cadherin (general, membrane and cytoplasmic) in LLSCC classified in early clinical stages (stage I and II) (p <0.05) and higher expression of E-cadherin (general and membrane) in cases with remission after 5 years of follow-up (p<0.05). No significant relationships of E-cadherin expression were observed with tumor size, regional metastasis, relapse and the histopathological grade of malignancy. In relation to the Twist protein, it was found a greater general, nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of the same in lesions classified in late stages (III and IV), with recurrence and a high degree of malignancy (p<0.05). In addition, a greater overall expression of Twist protein was also found in high-risk lesions according to the system proposed by Brandwein-Gensler et al. (2005). There was also a significant positive correlation between Twist nuclear immunoexpression and cytoplasmic E-cadherin expression (r = 0.261, p = 0.046). In turn, a significant negative correlation was observed between Twist cytoplasmic expression and E-cadherin membrane expression (r = -0.286; p = 0.028). The results of the present study suggest the potential involvement of Twist and E-cadherin proteins in the modulation of events related to the worst prognosis of LLSCC.