Claudin-7 down-regulation is an important feature in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: Claudins, a large family of essential tight junction (TJ) proteins, are abnormally regulated in human carcinomas, especially claudin-7. The aim of this study was to investigate claudin-7 expression and alterations in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods And Results: Expression of claudin-7 was analysed in 132 cases of OSCC organized in a tissue microarray.