Assessment of The Association of OCT3/4 With GLUT1 And CD105 In Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Dual Immunohistochemistry

Abstract:

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common cancer type affecting the oral and maxillofacial region. This study aimed to investigate the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in angiogenesis and hypoxic response in OSCC.

Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluated 56 cases of OSCC using dual immunohistochemistry. Octamer-binding transcription factor 3/4 (OCT3/4) marker was used for evaluation of CSC activity. Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) marker was used to evaluate the hypoxic response and angiogenesis, while endoglin (CD105) was used to evaluate the late stage of angiogenesis and blood vessel formation.

Results: Overexpression of both OCT3/4 and GLUT1 was noted in early stage of hypoxic response and angiogenesis in OSCC, indicating the important role of CSCs in this phase. However, despite higher expression of CD105, the expression of CSC markers was not significant in the late stage of tumor progression and angiogenesis.

Conclusions: CSCs could play important roles in initial stages of tumor progression and angiogenesis. Further studies are required to discover other biomarkers, their roles, and associated pathways of CSCs in OSCC.