China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery ›› 2021, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (6): 494-499.doi: 10.19438/j.cjoms.2021.06.003

• Original Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Expression and clinical significance of cystatin A in oral squamous cell carcinoma

YANG Yun-bo1,2, WANG Yu-pu1, LI Hang1,2, HAN Nan-nan2, YAN Ming2, RUAN Min2   

  1. 1. School of Stomatology, Weifang Medical University. Weifang 261053, Shandong Province;
    2. Department of Oromaxillofacial Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology. Shanghai 200011, China
  • Online:2021-12-25 Published:2022-03-02

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the expression of cystatin A (CSTA) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and its association with clinicopathological factors. METHODS: The expression of CSTA was examined using quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blotting. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the association between CSTA expression and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with OSCC. The effect of CSTA on migration and invasion was evaluated using in vitro assays. The results were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.4.3 software. RESULTS: CSTA expression was significantly downregulated in primary OSCC tissues, and lower CSTA expression was significantly correlated with high tumor grade (P=0.001), cervical lymph node metastasis(P=0.028), and poor overall survival(P<0.001). CTSA overexpression inhibited OSCC cell migration and invasion in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that CSTA is a promising biomarker and therapeutic target with prognostic implications in patients with OSCC. CSTA may play an essential role in cervical lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation.

Key words: Cystatin A, Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Cervical lymphatic metastasis, Neoplasm invasiveness, Biomarker

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