LOW EXPRESSION OF HISTONE MODIFICATIONS ARE ASSOCIATED TO POOR PROGNOSIS IN ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract

<h3>Objectives</h3> To analyze the immunohistochemical expression of GCN5, H3K9ac, H4K12ac, Aurora B, and H3S10ph in samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma and their association with clinicopathologic data. <h3>Study Design</h3> This observational study was performed with a tissue microarray of 90 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Clinicopathologic data were collected from patient records, and immunohistochemical assay was performed with the streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Image analyses were conducted with ImageJ software by obtaining the integrated optical density. <h3>Results</h3> GCN5 expression was higher in patients who smoked and nonrecurrent lesions, whereas H3K9ac expression was higher in asymptomatic patients and smokers. H3S10ph expression was also higher in asymptomatic patients. GCN5 and H3S10ph low-expressing cases were associated to patient death, and H3K9ac low-expressing cases were frequently recurrent. In patients with metastasis, GCN5 positively correlated to smoking habits. In nonmetastatic patients, inverse correlations were identified between GCN5 and tumor staging, recurrence, and death; Aurora B and recurrence; H3S10ph and symptoms, recurrence, and death; and H4K12ac and smoking habits. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Low expression of histone acetylation and phosphorylation markers are associated to poor prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.