Overexpression of osteopontin and integrin αv in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas associated with differentiation and metastasis

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphoprotein, which functions as a cell attachment protein and cytokine that signals through two cell adhesion molecules, integrin alpha v beta 3 and CD44, to regulate cancer growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of OPN and integrin alpha v (ITGAV, main receptor of the OPN) in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC) and correlate the expression quantity with tumor biological behavior. We have made a tissue microarray of LHSCC and detected the OPN and ITGAV expression by immunohistochemistry in the microarray. The expression quantity of OPN and ITGAV was determined by a professional pathological image processing software (Image-Pro plus 5.02), and the clinical significances of the expression quantity in LHSCC were analyzed. The expression quantity of OPN and ITGAV in primary and metastatic carcinomas is significantly higher than in normal tissues. The expression of OPN and ITGAV in the well-differentiated group is significantly lower than in moderately and poorly differentiated group; the expression quantity of OPN and ITGAV in group with lymph node metastasis is significantly higher than in group without lymph node metastasis. The expression of OPN and ITGAV was significantly influenced to the differentiation and metastasis of the LHSCC. Overexpression of the OPN and ITGAV may have contributed to invasion and metastasis of the LHSCC, and therefore, OPN and ITGAV may have value as a target for chemotherapy in LHSCC treatment.