Invasion Phenotypes of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The invasion signature of tumor cells can strongly affect their metastatic behavior; therefore, we aimed to evaluate the different invasion phenotypes of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to determine the correlation of these markers with neoplastic mode of invasion. A total of 92 OSCCs were graded according to the Yamamoto criteria and subjected to immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and podoplanin. Samples were grouped into epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), collective-cell invasion (CCI), and combined intermediate phenotypes followed by statistical analysis. Significant differences were found among the 3 groups (P<0.001), between EMT and CCI (P=0.023) and between the combined phenotypes and both EMT and CCI, separately (P<0.001). Mode of invasion was significantly associated with E-cadherin (P=0.022), but not the other markers. There seems to be a preference for OSCCs to migrate by CCI; however, most our samples showed an intermediate phenotype between EMT and CCI, which confirm the existence of a spectrum of migration signatures that need to be further evaluated in these tumors.