Nobumoto Tadayoshi, Yamasaki Sachiko, Hamada Atsuko, Higaki Mirai, Ito Nanako, Obayashi Fumitaka, Ishida Yasutaka, Hamana Tomoaki, Shintani Tomoaki, Tani Ryouji, Koizumi Koichi, Yanamoto Souichi, Hayashido Yasutaka
Department of Oral Oncology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Center of Oral Clinical Examination, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2025 Jan;139(1):92-100. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.08.020. Epub 2024 Sep 3.
Claudin (CLD), a major component of tight junctions, is a four-transmembrane protein, and 24 subtypes have been reported in humans. CLD expression is highly tissue-specific; CLD1 has been reported to be expressed in the skin and mucosa. There have been few reports on CLD1 expression and its function in oral cancer.
This retrospective study immunohistochemically evaluated CLD1 expression as prognostic predictors in 84 participants with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Participants were classified as positive or negative based on staining intensity; the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival rates of the two groups were compared. To clarify the biological role of CLD1 in OSCC cells, we examined the effects of CLD1 overexpression on the invasion and proliferation of the OSCC cell line, SCCKN.
We observed the immunohistochemical CLD1 expression in the cell membranes of OSCC cells. The disease-free survival rate was significantly lower in patients with CLD1-positive OSCC than in patients with CLD1-negative OSCC (P < .05). In vitro studies showed that cell proliferative capacity, motility, proteolytic activity, and invasive growth were promoted in CLD1-overexpressing SCCKN cells compared to those in control SCCKN cells.
CLD1 may be a useful and potential prognostic factor for OSCC treatment.
