Clinical significance of altered expression of retinoid receptors in oral precancerous and cancerous lesions: relationship with cell cycle regulators.

Alterations in expression of retinoid receptors are implicated in human cancers. We hypothesized that altered expression of retinoic acid receptors (RARalpha,beta,gamma) and retinoid X receptor RXRalpha and their relationship with cell cycle regulators (p53, p16, p21) is associated with development, progression and prognosis of oral cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of RAR alpha, beta, gamma and RXRalpha proteins was carried out on serial sections from 244 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), 102 potentially malignant lesions (65 hyperplasias, 37 dysplasias), 83 matched histologically normal oral tissues and 29 normal mucosa from non-exposed individuals without oral lesions and correlated with expression of cell cycle regulators p53, p16 and p21 as well as with clinicopathological parameters.

Stromelysin 3, Ets-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in oral precancerous and cancerous lesions: correlation with microvessel density, progression, and prognosis.

Purpose: Identification of molecular changes characteristic of development and progression of oral cancer are of paramount importance for effective intervention. Stromelysin 3 (MMP11) is a unique matrix metalloproteinase shown to have dual function during cancer progression. The transcription factor Ets-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are important proangiogenic factors in cancer.