Clinicopathological Correlations of E-Cadherin, Vimentin, and EGFR in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Aims: The present study aimed to determine the clinicopathological features in suspected oral squamous cell carcinoma patients.2-To study the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers (E-Cadherin and Vimentin) in oral squamous cell carcinoma. 3-To correlate the expression of E-Cadherin and Vimentin with the expression of EGFR.

Study Design: This is a Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Department of Pathology, JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh, between August 2020 to July 2022.

Methodology: The study was conducted on 252 samples out of which IHC of E-cadherin, Vimentin, and EGFR was applied on 75 representative samples. All the demographic details were noted and H and E were applied to all samples. All the cases were classified into well, moderate, and poorly differentiated OSCC. Later on, after applying IHC on representative samples correlation was done between the expression of three IHC markers results.

Results: Out of 252 cases a maximum number of cases i.e., 125 (49.60%) were moderately differentiated followed by 109 (43.25%) well-differentiated and the least number i.e.,18 (7.14%) were poorly differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean age of patients in different grades of OSCC was 49 years with a significant p value of <0.01. males clearly outnumbered females. 83.33% (210 cases) were found in males while 16.67% (42 cases) were found in females. Buccal mucosa was found to be the most common site of involvement by OSCC with 45.24% (114) cases. The majority of cases had multiple risk factors involved. The most frequent association was with tobacco/betel quid, which was seen in 35.71% (90) cases.

As the tumour progressed towards poor differentiation, there was a decrease in the mean IHC score of E-cadherin from 10.37 to 2.13, which was found statistically significant (p<0.001) while the mean IHC score of Vimentin increased from 2.60 to 9.20 implying the inverse correlation of both and proving epithelial-mesenchymal transition. with a decrease in differentiation from well to poor mean IHC score of EGFR increases from 1.90 to 10.60, which was found statistically significant (p<0.001). E-cadherin was found to be inversely proportional to EGFR with significant results (r = -0.829, p< 0.01). Vimentin was found to be directly proportional to EGFR with significant results (r = 0.760, p< 0.01).

Conclusion: With regard to the histologic grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma, loss of E-cadherin expression and overexpression of Vimentin and EGFR are prognostic indicators, indicating that the expression of these molecules changes as the tumour progresses to a reduced differentiation. Immunoreactivity of E-cadherin, Vimentin, and EGFR can be utilized to assess the prognosis, metastatic behaviour, survival, and management of patients.