alpha-Neup5Ac-(2--3)-beta-D-Galp-(1--4)-[alpha-L-Fucp-(1--3)]-D-GlcpNAc and Mouth-Neoplasms

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) reportedly play a pivotal role in antitumor immunity against oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); however, mechanisms governing TIL recruitment to OSCC tissues remain to be clarified. This study was undertaken to assess a potential association between TILs and high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels that express sialyl 6-sulfo Lewis X (LeX).. OSCC tissue sections (n=41) were subjected to immunohistochemistry for sialyl 6-sulfo LeX and CD34 to allow quantitation of HEV-like vessels. Triple immunohistochemistry for sialyl 6-sulfo LeX and either CD3 and CD20 or CD4 and CD8 was conducted to determine which lymphocyte subset is more closely associated with HEV-like vessels.. HEV-like vessels expressing sialyl 6-sulfo LeX were detected in 27 of 41 (65.9%) OSCC cases, and these vessels were more frequently found in early disease (T1/T2 stages) compared with advanced (T3/T4) stages. The number of T cells attached to the inner surface of these HEV-like vessels was significantly greater than that of B cells, while the number of CD4. Sialyl 6-sulfo LeX is displayed not only on HEV-like vessels but also on OSCC cells and may potentially function in antitumor immunity against OSCC.

Topics: Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lewis X Antigen; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating; Male; Mouth Neoplasms; Oligosaccharides; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

Expression and implication of carbohydrate antigens in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) in oral cavity was examined. In the cell lines, type 2H and Lewis y antigens were markedly expressed. In the tissues from SCC patients and benign disorders, type 2H was highly expressed in hyperplasia (96.4 %), displasia (92.9 %) and SCC (100 %). Lewis y was, in turn, expressed mainly in cancer tissues (91.3 %), suggesting that Lewis y is a cancer-associated antigen. Normal oral mucosa showed no expression of these blood group antigens. Surprisingly, Lewis y antigen disappeared in the invasion sites where Ki-67 was definitely stained. Over-expression of Lewis y with manipulation of a fucosyltransferase cDNA resulted in suppression of cell growth and invasion, and knockdown of Lewis y also brought about increased cell growth and invasion. In either situations, no changes in the expression of sialyl-Lewis x could be found. Lowered tumor growth and invasion into surrounding tissues were also shown in Lewis y-positive SCC grafts in nu/nu mice. All these results together with alternative staining between Lewis y and Ki-67 in cancer tissues and FUT1 transfectants suggested that loss of Lewis y is a crucial event for the late stage of SCCs.

Topics: Animals; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Cell Line, Tumor; Fucosyltransferases; Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Ki-67 Antigen; Lewis Blood Group Antigens; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mouth Mucosa; Mouth Neoplasms; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasm Transplantation; Oligosaccharides; Organ Specificity; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

The present study aimed to determine significance of E-cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule, and sialyl Lewis-X (sLeX), a cell surface antigen, in oral carcinogenesis. Expressions of E-cadherin and sLeX were detected using western blot analysis from oral malignant (n=25), and oral precancerous tissues (OPC, n=20) and their adjacent normal tissues. An altered expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) and sLeX was observed in malignant and precancerous tissues. E-cad western blot revealed presence of two bands, a 120 kDa (native, E-cad120) and a 97 kDa (known as truncated E-cad97). The accumulation of truncated E-cad97 and sLeX in malignant and OPC tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues was observed. Receiver's Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed good discriminatory efficacy of E-cad97, E-cad97:120 ratio and sLeX between the malignant and adjacent. normal tissues. Further, a positive correlation of E-cad97 and sLeX overexpression with advanced stage of the disease and lymphnode metastasis was observed. The data suggest that E-cadherin truncation and sLeX overexpression are early events which may facilitate the tumor cells to metastasize. Also, overexpression E-cad97 and sLeX in OPC tissues may be useful to predict metastatic potentials of tumors at an early stage of oral carcinogenesis. Key words: Oral cancer, oral precancerous conditions, E-cadherin, sialyl Lewis-X, metastasis.

Topics: Adult; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; Blotting, Western; Cadherins; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms; Precancerous Conditions; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; ROC Curve; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen

Carbohydrate antigens in cancer cells are considered to be involved in the binding of cancer cells to the endothelium during metastasis.. Seventy cases of primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were obtained from biopsy specimens and were analyzed immunohistochemically using an antibody against sialyl Lewis (Le)a or sialyl Le(x). Flow cytometry was performed to detect the sialyl Le(a) or sialyl Le(x) expressed on oral SCC cell lines.. The expressions of sialyl Le(a), but not sialyl Le(x), of primary tumors significantly correlated to nodal metastasis; 71% of the metastatic cases express sialyl Le(a) and the cases with positive sialyl Le(a) and no sialyl Le(x) demonstrated a high incidence of metastasis (80%). A flow cytometric study demonstrated the oral SCC cell line, which can metastasize in nude mice, to express a high level of sialyl Le(a).. The high expression of sialyl Le(a) in primary tumors may thus be involved in nodal metastasis and therefore predict a poor prognosis in oral SCC.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; Biomarkers, Tumor; CA-19-9 Antigen; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; E-Selectin; Flow Cytometry; Gangliosides; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lewis X Antigen; Lymphatic Metastasis; Male; Mice; Mice, Nude; Mouth Neoplasms; Oligosaccharides; Prognosis; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Tumor Cells, Cultured