Expression of αvβ6 integrin and collagen fibre in oral squamous cell carcinoma: association with clinical outcomes and prognostic implications.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to investigate the expression and significance of the αvβ6 integrin, collagen fibres and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-3 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to analyse the possible regulatory relationships between αvβ6, collagen fibres and MMP-3.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
A series of 80 patients (mean age 56.4 years) diagnosed with OSCC were enrolled. Associations between αvβ6, MMP-3, collagen fibre expression levels and clinicopathological parameters were evaluated using the Fisher exact test. Survival analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier curves. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyse interactions between αvβ6, MMP-3 and collagen fibres.


RESULTS
αvβ6 and MMP-3 were strongly expressed in human OSCC, especially at the peripheral borders of invasive tumour islands, and collagen fibres were generally disrupted and degraded in the same areas. The expression intensity of αvβ6 was associated with the differentiation state of cells. β6 mRNA was expressed in almost all cancer cells. In carcinomas, αvβ6 and MMP-3 expression were correlated with the distribution of collagen fibres.


CONCLUSIONS
Tumour cells highly expressing αvβ6 have a strong capability for invasion and migration, due to concomitant protease production and the destruction and remodelling of collagen fibres. Increased αvβ6 integrin and MMP-3 expression and collagen fibre changes in human OSCCs are related to unfavourable clinical prognostic factors and decreased survival.
['Li|Hai-Xia|HX|', 'Zheng|Jin-Hua|JH|', 'Fan|Hai-Xia|HX|', 'Li|Hui-Ping|HP|', 'Gao|Zhong-Xiuzi|ZX|', 'Chen|Dong|D|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell D002454:Cell Differentiation D002465:Cell Movement D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant D015331:Cohort Studies D003094:Collagen D018572:Disease-Free Survival D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic D006801:Humans D039641:Integrin beta Chains D016023:Integrins D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis D008297:Male D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 D008875:Middle Aged D009062:Mouth Neoplasms D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness D009367:Neoplasm Staging D011379:Prognosis D012189:Retrospective Studies D015996:Survival Rate D016896:Treatment Outcome D059016:Tumor Microenvironment
αvβ6 integrin collagen fibre oral squamous cell carcinoma MMP-3 prognosis