Atypical Protein Kinase C λ/ι Expression Is Associated with Malignancy of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Background/aim: Atypical protein kinase C λ/ι (aPKCλ/ι) is a cell polarity-regulator localized in the tight junction and apical membrane in epithelial cells. Previous studies suggested that aPKCλ/ι overexpression and abnormal localization were involved in tumor progression in several cancers. We investigated the relationship between aPKCλ/ι and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Materials and methods: The correlation between the aPKCλ/ι expression and the clinicopathological parameters in 76 OSCC cases was examined using immunohistochemical analyses.

Results: aPKCλ/ι overexpression was observed in 36.8% of cases. aPKCλ/ι expression was more intense in poorly differentiated OSCC and younger patients (<60 years of age). Although expression of aPKCλ/ι was not significantly associated with clinical parameters, the correlation was found between aPKCλ/ι localization and progression-free survival.

Conclusion: This is the first study to assess the association of aPKCλ/ι expression in OSCC with clinical results. Expression and localization of aPKCλ/ι may be involved in the degree of malignancy in OSCC.

Keywords: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); atypical protein kinase C λ/ι (aPKCλ/ι).