Astrocyte Elevated Gene 1 (AEG-1): A Promising Candidate for Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Background: Astrocyte elevated gene 1 (AEG-1), also known as metadherin, is an oncogene which is overexpressed in various types of cancer, playing important roles in invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis and chemotherapy resistance. Hence it might be used as a therapeutic target. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of AEG-1 as a novel molecular marker in oral squamous cell carcinomas and establish correlations with clinicopathologic factors. Materials and Methods: Thirty formalin fixed paraffin-embedded blocks of OSCC cases and 30 samples of normal oral mucosa with minimal inflammation were selected and stained immunohistochemically for AEG-1. Staining intensity and percentage of stained cells were scored according to nuclear and cytoplasmic staining of epithelial cells. Relationship between immunoreactivity and clinicopathologic factors were examined by T-test and Mann-Whitney. Results: AEG-1 expression in OSCCs was greater than in normal oral mucosa (P<0.05). However, nuclear and cytoplasmic expression of AEG-1 was not associated with any of the clinicopathologic factors, age and gender of patients, tumor location, smoking history, tumor staging and grading, metastasis to lymph nodes and distant metastasis ( P>0.05). Conclusion: The current results support some role of AEG-1 in genesis of oral squamous cell carcinomas.