Fascin Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma using an Immunohistochemical Technique

Introdouction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common form of oral cancer, requires early diagnosis and suitable treatments. Fascin is a protein involved in cell adhesion and is increased in expression in certain types of carcinomas. The present study was conducted to assess fascin expression in OSCC using an immunohistochemical technique. In the present retrospective study, 25 paraffin blocks of OSCC samples were selected and immunohistochemically stained for detection of fascin expression. Fascin expression rate was calculated as the sum of stained cells (scores from 0 to 4) and staining intensity (scores from 0 to 3). Samples collected from 18 men and 7 women, with a mean age of 57.42 years, were assessed, which showed that the most usually affected sites were the gingiva and the tongue. Fascin expression was positive for all the samples and had the highest possible score (24 cases with score 7 and 1 case with score 6). Fascin expression level was not found to have a significant relationship with age, gender, and tumor location (P > 0.05). The data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (18) via chi-square analysis, independent T test and One way Anova p <0.05 was considered significant. Irrespective of the clinical parameters, fascin expression is possibly involved in the etiology of OSCC; target therapy medicines can therefore be used in the future to treat this malignancy.