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Prognostic value of activated Akt expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

¹ Department of Oral Pathology, Dental School, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, 28-2 Yongon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea
² Department of Dentistry, Pundang Jesaeng Hospital, Pundang-gu, Kyounggi-do 463-774, Korea
³ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dental School, Seoul National University

Correspondence to:
Dr S-P Hong
Department of Oral Pathology, Dental School, Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, 28-2 Yongon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea; zjon0224{at}snu.ac.kr Background: Akt is a serine/threonine kinase that plays an important role in tumorigenesis and influences prognosis in several cancers. However, its importance in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) has not been elucidated.

Aim: To investigate the association between the expression of activated Akt, clinicopathological factors, and E-cadherin, PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression to verify the validity of Akt as a prognostic factor in OSCC.

Methods: Phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), E-cadherin, PCNA, and VEGF expression were assessed immunohistochemically in 84 OSCCs. The results were analysed in relation to clinicopathological factors.

Results: p-Akt was expressed in 29 cases. It was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and E-cadherin expression. Univariate analysis showed that p-Akt expression, E-cadherin expression, PCNA expression, differentiation, tumour size, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, and recurrence correlated with prognosis. Multivariate analysis showed that p-Akt expression is an independent prognostic factor in patients with OSCC.

Conclusions: This study revealed that Akt activation is a significant prognostic indicator for OSCC and is correlated with E-cadherin expression. The inhibition of Akt is a possible molecular approach to the treatment of OSCC.

Abbreviations: LI, labelling index; OSCC, oral squamous cell carcinoma; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; p-Akt, phosphorylated Akt; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor

Keywords: oral squamous cell carcinoma; Akt; E-cadherin; prognostic factor

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