Title: Cornulin a molecular biomarker for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma and neck nodes
Abstract:
Novel biomarkers that can complement current histopathological methods and supplement the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis for tongue squamous cell carcinoma are needed. Tumor size (T), lymph node reactivity (N) and distant metastasis (M) in TNM staging can be misleading in terms of stage at diagnosis but different proliferation potential. Regional lymph node spread or micrometastasis in neck nodes defines mortality rate in TSCC. Neck lymph node metastasis or nodal micrometastasis determines selection of treatment strategy. Clinically and pathologically neck node-negative (pN-) oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) patients need a decisive factor for preventive neck dissection as a radical treatment. Conventional histologic examination Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E) does not detect nodal micrometastsis. However, tumor biomarkers have a predictive, diagnostic, prognostic and treatment plan strategic value. Immunohistochemistry highlights tumor foci and can assist upstaging neck node-negative disease to neck node-positive (pN+). We studied the expression of cornulin (CRNN), on a bank of anatomically discrete sentinel neck lymph node tissues from OTSCC patients. The control tissues were from neck node-negative OTSCC patients. In so doing, we anticipated identifying site and stage-specific biomarkers and potentially new targets for therapeutic intervention. The associated factors (infiltrating lymphocytes and blood vessels) were studied and correlated with nodal micrometastasis. OTSCC patients initially classified as pN- by H&E were upstaged to neck node-positive (pN+) disease.
