Correlation between the expression of Id-1 and hyperthermia-associated molecules in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the expression of inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding (Id-1), phosphatidylinositol- 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway proteins and hyperthermia-associated protein and their association with various clinicopathological factors in oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC), and explore the relationship among them in OSCC. Methods Id-1, phosphorylated protein kinase B ( p-Akt), phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β) and phosphorylated heat shock factor 1 ( p-HSF1) expression were assessed immunohistochemically in 76 OSCC. Results Id-1 (73.8%), p-Akt (65.8%), p-GSK3β (60.5%) and p-HSF1 (75%) were found to be overexpressed in most of the oral cancer samples tested, and the expressions of them are correlated with advanced clinical stage, metastasis and recurrence ( p<0.01), but there is no apparent relationship with gender, age, differentiation and habits ( p>0.05). Survival curves show that the survival of patients with high Id-1, p-Akt, p-GSK3β and p-HSF1 expression was significantly worse than those with low Id-1, p-Akt, p-GSK3β and p-HSF1 expression ( p=0.000). Id-1 expression was significantly higher in cases with high expression of p-Akt, p-GSK3β and p-HSF1 than in those with low expression ( p=0.002, p=0.003, p=0.001). Conclusions This study revealed that there was a positive correlation between Id-1 expression and the expression of p-Akt, p-GSK3β and p-HSF1. The inhibition of Id-1 expression can improve the efficacy of hyperthermia in OSCC.