Higher expression of ALCAM in skin and lip squamous cell carcinoma in contrast with oral mucosa and tongue

Introduction: The aim of the research was to study the expression of Activated-LeukocyteCell Adhesion Molecule (ALCAM) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) comparing withskin squamous cell carcinoma and its association with histopathological parameters.Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, using samples available in Institute ofCancer of Imam Hospital in Tehran, samples of OSCC tumors from tongue and oral mucosaas well as skin SCC tumors from head and neck and lip were simultaneously studied of tumorsize, lymph node metastasis, and differentiation and ALCAM expression by IHC. Analysiswas performed using chi square and fisher exact tests, and multiple logistic regression models(ɑ=0.05).Results: 58 samples of tongue and oral mucosa and 44 samples of head and neck skin and liptumors belonged to 70 men and 32 women with mean (Standard deviation) of age 61.7(15.6)years of old were studied. More than half of lesions had good differentiation and lymph nodemetastasis. From all, 81 (79.4%) of samples were positive of ALCAM.IHC Results: Total and cytoplasmic ALCAM expressions were significantly more in skin andlip compared with oral mucosa and tongue lesions (P=0.04). Odds of ALCAM totalexpression in tumors with size of at least 20 mm was more (OR=3.46, CI 95%: 1.71-7.01,p=0.001). ALCAM membranous expression in negative samples of lymph node metastasiswas more (P=0.001) .In addition, odds of cytoplasmic ALCAM expression in patients withage 40 and more was higher (P=0.003). Although multiple logistic regression models showedno relationship between gender and differentiation with ALCAM expression, chi square testsshowed significant associations between increasing of total (P=0.01) and cytoplasmic(P=0.04) ALCAM expression with better histopathologic differentiation.Conclusion: Higher expression of ALCAM in skin and lip squamous cell carcinoma incontrast with oral mucosa and tongue lesions shows the important molecular discrepancywhich may have role in their various behaviors in these two regions. The study confirmedALCAM role as a Paradox indicator with suggesting relationship between ALCAMexpression and clinicohistopathologic parameters. Next researches may make the role ofALCAM in different phases of tumor developing clearer.

Higher expression of ALCAM in skin and lip squamous cell carcinoma in contrast with oral mucosa and tongue Keywords:

ALCAM , Squamous cell carcinoma , Oral mucosa , skin