Different patterns of expression of cell cycle control and local invasion-related proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma affecting young patients.

Objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) predominantly affects males in the fifth decade of life; nevertheless, an increased incidence in young patients has been reported worldwide, and the clinical and behavioral characteristics of tumors in this group are controversial, and the literature shows divergent results.

Purpose: To investigate the clinicopathological features and prognostic significance of the immunoexpression of cell cycle and local invasion proteins in OSCC affecting young patients (≤40 years old).

Methods: A tissue microarray was performed with 132 OSCC samples (61 cases of young patients vs 71 cases of elderly patients) and submitted to immunohistochemical reactions with Ki67, p53, p16, Bcl-2, Cyclin D1, C-ErbB2, p21, Myc, EGFR, MMP-9, SMA, Cathepsin K and FGF-2 antibodies.

Results: Clinicopathological features and survival rates were similar in both groups. Although overexpression of EGFR (P=.042) and MMP-9 (P=.001) was more frequent in young patients, only C-ErbB-2 (P=.048) and SMA (P=.048) expression correlated with lower disease-free survival (DFS) in this group of patients.

Conclusion: Clinicopathological features and survival rates are similar between younger and older patients with OSCC. The different patterns of C-ErbB2, EGFR, MMP-9, and SMA expression between the groups merits further investigation to understand their role in the early tumor onset in young patients.