| Purpose:Tongue squamous cell carcinoma ( TSCC ) is the most common type in oral-maxillofacial malignant tumors , whose morbidity and mortality rates at the top of oral cancer. Its high degree of malignant, strong infiltration, lymph node metastasis early, poor prognosis and secondary deformity after surgery effect the quality of life of patients with TSCC serious. Autocrine motility factor receptor is a kind of cytokines which stimulates up-adjustment of downstream signal transduction pathway which leading to cell movement both random and directed. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), its receptor is the transmembrane protein encoded by C-Met oncogene which has closely relationship with several human solid tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. We used immunohistochemical SP techniques to detect the expression of AMFR and C-Met protein in TSCC and NOM; explored its relationship with the clinicopathological features and biological behavior of TSCC.Materials and Methods:1. 10 NOM and 80 TSCC were selected. Information of these cases was collected including age, gender, pathological type, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage.2. Using immunohistochemical SP staining, we examined AMFR and C-Met protein expression in paraffin slices of 80 tongue squamous cell carcinomas. As control, expression of these proteins in 10 normal tongue tissue were also detected.3. Difference of AMFR and C-Met protein were analyzed in normal tongue tissue and tongue squamous cell carcinomas, Relationships of these protein expression with clinicopathological parameter were analyzed in TSCC, and so were relationship of protein AMFR expression with C-Met protein expression.Result:1. The expression of AMFR in TSCC major located in cytoplasm and membrane of the carcinoma cells, and occasional expression located cell nucleus. The positive expression rate of AMFR is 76.25% in TSCC, but negative expression in NOM. The positive (+) were 32 cases (40%); the stronger positive (+ + ) were 29 cases (36.25%). The over-expression of AMFR had positive correlation with clinical stage of TSCC (P<0.05) by the statistical analysis. Expression of AMFR was not correlated with patient age, gender, tumor site, size, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis(P>0.05).2.The positive expression of C-Met protein brown staining parts located in cytoplasm and membrane of tongue cancer cells. There were 67 cases positive expression in 80 cases. The positive expression rate of C-Met protein is 83.75%. The positive (+) were 39 cases (48.75%); the stronger positive (+ + ) were 28 cases (35%), but negative expression in NOM. The over-expression of C-Met protein had positive correlation with clinical stage, histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis of TSCC (P<0.05). Expression of AMFR was not correlated with patient age, gender, tumor site, size(P>0.05).3.The relationship between AMFR and C-Met protein expression There were 28 cases AMFR stronger positive expression, and there were 17 cases C-Met protein stronger positive expression in those. The correlation coefficient was 0.482 by Pearson's correlation analysis. The contingency coefficient was 0.435. Positive relationship between AMFR and C-Met protein expression was observed in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (P<0.001). Conclusion:Expression of AMFR and C-Met were significantly associated with tumor progression and development in TSCC, which were valuable markers judging biological behavior and malignant potential in TSCC. C-Met may serve as a significant predicting factor of clinical stage andd trend of metastasis in TSCC. Over-expression of AMFR and C-Met may promote each other in unknown signal transduction pathway.
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