Clinicopathological Profile of Oral Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the clinicopathological profile of oral soft tissue sarcoma.Patients and Methods: Between 1980 and 2000, twelve patients with oral soft tissue sarcoma were evaluated for the expression profile of tumour suppression gene products (p53, pRB, p16) proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index; invasive and metastatic potential by matrix metalloproteinase expression; and intratumoural microvessel density.Results: Oral soft tissue sarcomas generally presented as asymptomatic masses. All patients were treated by surgery except for 2 who had distant metastasis at presentation. Local recurrences after surgery were observed in 6 of the 10 operated patients (60.0%), and distant metastasis occurred in 7 of 12 patients (58.3%). Nine patients (75.0%) died despite treatment. In immunohistochemical studies, overexpression of p53 was noted in 6 of the 10 operated patients (60.0%) and loss of p16 expression was noted in 8 patients (80.0%). The mean proliferating cell nuclear antigen labelling index was 31.4%. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression was observed in all patients and the tumours showed low intratumoural microvessel density (mean, 4.5 per examination area).Conclusion: These observations illustrate the well-recognised high proliferative potential and aggressiveness without angiogenesis of oral soft tissue sarcomas.