Expression of stathmin in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with tumour proliferation

Satyadev Rana; Priyanka Mondal; Manik Mandal; Pratyush Datta; Ishita Maji; Jayati Chakraborty

doi:10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_202_22

Expression of stathmin in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its correlation with tumour proliferation

J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2023 Jan-Mar;27(1):103-108. doi: 10.4103/jomfp.jomfp_202_22. Epub 2023 Mar 21.

Authors

Satyadev Rana¹, Priyanka Mondal², Manik Mandal³, Pratyush Datta¹, Ishita Maji¹, Jayati Chakraborty¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pathology, ESI-PGIMSR Manicktala, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
² Department of Pathology, ESIC Model Hospital, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
³ Department of Pathology, Damodar Valley Corporation, Purulia, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Abstract

Background: Stathmin is a member of microtubule-associated protein. Inhibition of Stathmin expression can interfere with tumour progression and also alter the sensitivity of tumour cells to microtubule-targeting agents. Thus, it could be a potential therapeutic target for planning new treatment strategies.

Objective: To study expression of Stathmin in different histological grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its correlation with Ki67 index.

Materials and methods: This study was an observational retrospective and prospective study conducted during a period of two and half years from January 2015 to June 2017 at ESI-PGIMSR Maniktala, Kolkata where 52 cases of OSCC were studied. Haematoxylin and eosin sections were reviewed and representative paraffin blocks were selected. Immunostains were performed using antibody clones for Stathmin and Ki67. For Stathmin scoring, Segersten scoring system was applied. Statistical analysis was done by Graph Pad Prism using Krusher Wallis Test and one-way ANOVA test. Spearman's coefficient was used to establish corelation between Ki 67 and Stathmin overexpression.

Results: In this study, it is found that strong Stathmin expression score (4-9) was detected mostly (82.35%) in moderately differentiated (MD) OSCC and poorly differentiated (PD) OSCC (100%), whereas in contrast, 60% of well-differentiated OSCC showed negative-to-weak Stathmin score (1-3). Mean Ki67-labelling index for well-differentiated carcinoma was 32.37%, for moderately differentiated carcinoma was 60.89, and poorly differentiated carcinoma was 86.15%, which demonstrated increased tumour cell proliferation with progression of histological grades of OSCC.

Conclusion: Stathmin expression was higher in MD OSCC to PD OSCC compared to well-differentiated carcinoma and its overexpression was significantly correlated with Ki67 index. Thus, Stathmin is overexpressed in higher grades and is correlated with high proliferation of tumour with a potential role as therapeutic target.

Keywords: Histological grade; Ki67 labelling index; oral squamous cell carcinoma; stathmin expression.