Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- Ambika Murugesan 1
- Indrapriyadharshini K 1
- Balamanikandasrinivasan C 2
- V Subhalakshmi 3
- R Saranyan 4
1 Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Sankarachariyar Dental College, VMRF(DU), Sankari main road, Ariyanoor, Salem- 636308, India.
2 Dept. of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Vinayaka Mission’s Sankarachariyar Dental College, VMRF(DU), Sankari main road, Ariyanoor, Salem- 636308, India.
3 Central Research Laboratory, Vinayaka Mission’s Sankarachariyar Dental College, VMRF (DU), Sankari main road, Ariyanoor, Salem- 636308.
4 Dept. of Periodontology, Vinayaka Mission’s Sankarachariyar Dental College, VMRF(DU), Sankari main road, Ariyanoor, Salem- 636308, India.
Abstract
Background: One of the hallmarks of tumour progression is metabolic reprogramming, which also promotes resistance to the host microenvironment. Despite recent advances in diagnosis, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) represents a constant threat to public health.
Purpose: To evaluate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and monocarboxylate transporter-1 (MCT-1) and to correlate their expression with clinicopathological features of OSCC
Materials and Method: A retrospective observational study was conducted in 60 cases of OSCC. Among them, 25 were non-metastatic, 25 metastatic, and 10 recurrent cases of OSCC were included, and other variants of OSCC were excluded. The cases were stained immunohistochemically with HIF-1α and MCT-1, and were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA and the Pearson correlation coefficient test.
Results: HIF-1α expression was predominantly observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of tumour cells and showed higher expression in metastatic OSCC, tumour centre, and advanced TNM stages. MCT-1 expression was mainly localised to the tumour cell membrane and was significantly elevated in metastatic OSCC. A positive correlation was observed between HIF-1α and MCT-1 expression.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that increased expression of HIF-1α and MCT-1 is associated with aggressive tumour behaviour in OSCC. These markers may serve as potential prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets in OSCC.
Keywords