Atypical Protein Kinase C lambda/iota Expression Is Associated with Malignancy of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Atypical protein kinase C lambda/iota (aPKClambda/iota) is a cell polarity-regulator localized in the tight junction and apical membrane in epithelial cells. Previous studies suggested that aPKClambda/iota overexpression and abnormal localization were involved in tumor progression in several cancers. We investigated the relationship between aPKClambda/iota and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The correlation between the aPKClambda/iota expression and the clinicopathological parameters in 76 OSCC cases was examined using immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS: aPKClambda/iota overexpression was observed in 36.8% of cases. aPKClambda/iota expression was more intense in poorly differentiated OSCC and younger patients (<60 years of age). Although expression of aPKClambda/iota was not significantly associated with clinical parameters, the correlation was found between aPKClambda/iota localization and progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to assess the association of aPKClambda/iota expression in OSCC with clinical results. Expression and localization of aPKClambda/iota may be involved in the degree of malignancy in OSCC.