Expression of CDK6 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

1 Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Background: CDK6 is the key factor in regulation of the cell cycle and essential for passage into the G1 phase. It
also plays an important role in the development of various tumors. In this cross-sectional study expression of the CDK6
protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy oral mucosa of controls was assessed to determine relations
with malignant transformation and clinicopathologic factors. Method: A total of 60 samples, 45 from OSCCs and 15
from healthy tissue, underwent immunohistochemistry for CDK6. Nuclear and cytoplasmic staining of keratinocytes
was considered as positive and the percentages of positive cells were calculated. Results: Expression of CDK6 was
detected in 55.6% of OSCC samples (25 cases) and 13.3% of controls (2 cases), the difference being significant. Mean
percentage of CDK6 stained cells was 24.2±29.3 in the OSCC cases and 4.33±2.1 in the control group, again statistically
significant. No relationship was detected between CDK6 expression and clinicopathologic factors. Conclusion:
Overexpression of CDK6 observed in OSCC points to a role for this protein in oral carcinogenesis.

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