Abstract:
Claudin and occluding constitute a group of principal proteins forming the tight junctionalcomplex. The altered expression of selected claudins and occluding has been reported in several human cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of claudin and occludin in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), odontogenic cyst and tumot and examine their relationship with patient clinical-pathologic features. Fortyfive OSCC and 15 odontogenic cyst and tumor cases were enrolled. Patient clinical, pathologic and follow-up data were reviewed and the claudin and occluding expression were analyzed immunohistochemically. Only positive claudin-1 and claudin-4 immunoreactivities were noted in 86.7 and 80 % of OSCC cases, respectively. The majority of cases showed the staining in less than 25 % of cancer cells. The increased claudin-1 expression was significantly associated with the high pathologic grade, the presence of microscopic perineural invasion, vascular invasion, nodal metastasis, and advanced clinical stage. No relationship between various clinico-pathologic parameters and differential claudin-4 expression was observed. Claudin-1 may play a role in OSCC progression and could serve as a prognostic marker of advanced disease