HER2/neu and αSMA Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Statement of Problem: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common cancer of the mouth, but its pathogenesis is unknown. HER2/neu is a protoncogene with homologue sequence with EGF. αSMA is a smooth muscle specific actin which indicates the existence of myofibroblasts in the oral cancer stroma. This study aimed to measure the frequency of Her2/neu and (alpha) αSMA in oral SCC. For this study, 18 paraffinized blocks of OSCC were immunostained with Anti HER2/neu, Anti (Alpha) SMA. Percentage and degree of the epithelial cells staining and percentage staining of myofibroblasts were considered. The results of the study were analyzed using kappa and X2. From 18 cases of OSCC, 3 and 12 cases were positive with HER2/neu and αSMA, respectively. In the normal oral mucosa, one case was positive (Score 2) with HER2/neu but αSMA positive myofibroblasts were not seen in the stroma of OSCC. A significant difference was seen in αSMA expression in OSCC and the normal oral mucosa (p =0.002). No significant difference was found in HER2/neu expression in OSCC and normal mucosa (p >0.05). The results of this study suggest that αSMA has an effective role in pathogenesis and aggressive behavior of OSCC but HER2/neu has no main role in this type of oral cancer.