Epithelial and fibroblast SPARC expression patterns in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

This study evaluated and compared the expression of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in epithelial cells and fibroblasts of oral leukoplakia (OL) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using normal oral mucosa as a control. The expression of SPARC was determined in samples of normal oral mucosa (n=12), OL without dysplasia (n=31), OL with dysplasia (n=54), and OSCC (n=69) using immunohistochemistry. The percentage of positive cells in epithelial cells and fibroblasts was independently evaluated. Epithelial SPARC was found in 33.3%, 35.5%, 25.9%, and 66.7% of normal oral mucosa, OL without dysplasia, OL with dysplasia, and OSCC, respectively. Fibroblast SPARC was found in 50.0%, 29.0%, 46.3%, and 84.1% of normal oral mucosa, OL without dysplasia, OL with dysplasia, and OSCC, respectively. OSCC had higher epithelial and fibroblast SPARC expression than normal oral mucosa, OL without dysplasia, and OL with dysplasia (P < .05). No significant differences were observed in epithelial and fibroblast SPARC among normal oral mucosa or OL with and without dysplasia. Overexpression of epithelial and fibroblast SPARC was observed in OSCC but not in OL, suggesting that SPARC is involved in the late stage of oral carcinogenesis.