Up-regulation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in oral squamous cell carcinoma: Relation to cell differentiation

• Published in: Oncology reports Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 1415 - 1421
• Main Authors: HIROMOTO, Takashi, NOGUCHI, Kazuma, YAMAMURA, Michiyo, ZUSHI, Yusuke, SEGAWA, Emi, TAKAOKA, Kazuki, MORIDERA, Kuniyasu, KISHIMOTO, Hiromitsu, URADE, Masahiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Spandidos 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Acute-Phase Proteins - genetics; Acute-Phase Proteins - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Cadherins - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line, Tumor; Enzyme Assays; Female; Humans; Lipocalin-2; Lipocalins - genetics; Lipocalins - metabolism; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Tongue Neoplasms - metabolism; Tongue Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors; Up-Regulation; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; differentiation; Oral cancer; Stomatology; neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; lipocalin2; Malignant tumor; Oral squamous cell carcinoma; Cell differentiation; Cancerology; Metastasis suppressor gene; Oral cavity disease; Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin; Cancer
• DOI: 10.3892/or.2011.1429
• ISSN: 1021-335X

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL, also known as lipocalin2, LCN2) is a secreted glycoprotein with increased expression in solid tumors. The expression and functions of NGAL in oral cancer, however, remain unclear. We investigated the expression of NGAL in oral cancer tissues and oral cancer cell lines. By immunohistochemical examinations, NGAL expression was strongly up-regulated in well-differentiated OSCC tissues and moderately to weakly up-regulated in moderately to poorly differentiated OSCC tissues. In contrast, NGAL expression was weak or very weak in normal mucosa and leukoplakia. By western blot analysis, NGAL expression levels positively correlated with cell morphology patterns and loss of E-cadherin. In addition, the enzymatic activity of the NGAL/MMP-9 complex significantly correlated with the results obtained by zymographic analysis. In conclusion, NGAL expression is high in well-differentiated cancer, suggesting that NGAL may be a useful diagnostic marker of tumor-cell differentiation.